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Empowered local government key to tackling Karachi’s environmental challenges, moot told

KARACHI: Speakers at a conference on Friday highlighted Karachi’s environmental challenges ranging from an unsustainable civic infrastructure, absence of a mass transit system, worsening air quality to continued discharge of untreated waste into the sea, emphasising that an empowered local government system could help resolve these pressing issues. The event — 23rd Annual Environment Conference and Awards-2026 — was organised by the National Forum for Environment & Health (NFEH) under the theme ‘Reclaiming Pakistan’s Liveable Future: From Collateral Damage to Collective Ownership’. In his keynote address, former caretaker finance minister of Sindh and Policy Research & Advisory Council chairman Younus Dagha recalled that the catastrophic floods of 2022 had caused losses estimated at around $9billion, with Sindh suffering the largest share of the devastation. He warned that cities and towns on the right bank of the Indus river remained vulnerable to future floods due to the continued absence of the Right Bank Outfall Drain, regretting that no fresh budgetary allocation had been made for the crucial project. Minister Nasir Shah announces plan to install 17 air quality monitoring stations across Sindh; says two already working in Karachi He also talked about Karachi’s inadequate drainage infrastructure, saying it continued to expose millions of residents to urban flooding during heavy monsoon rains. Mr Dagha further stressed that timely completion of Karachi’s Bus Rapid Transit system could have significantly reduced carbon emissions from private vehicles. He also expressed concern over the continued discharge of untreated industrial effluents into the sea, which had severely damaged Karachi’s coastal marine ecosystem. He noted that stronger environmental safeguards, including increased urban tree cover, could have mitigated the impact of deadly heatwaves experienced in Karachi over the past decade. ‘Sindh emerges as country’s leader in climate action’ Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah spoke of government efforts for environmental protection and climate change challenges, stating Sindh’s globally recognised mangrove plantation campaign in the Indus Delta had laid the foundation for Pakistan’s first governmental carbon credit initiative, generating significant annual foreign exchange earnings. He announced that the Sindh Environmental Protection Act was being amended to make it more transparent, efficient and fully responsive to emerging climate change challenges while bringing the province’s environmental regulatory framework in line with international standards. The minister said Sindh was also strengthening its environmental monitoring capabilities through the use of modern technology. Two fully automated air quality monitoring stations had already been installed in Karachi, providing real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data also strengthening its environmental monitoring capabilities through the use of modern technology. Two fully automated air quality monitoring stations had already been installed in Karachi, providing real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data based on eight to nine key environmental parameters, while plans were underway to install 17 additional automated air quality analysers across the province. He added that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) had also fully automated its environmental monitoring and no-objection certificate (NOC) system to improve transparency, eliminate opportunities for inaccurate reporting and ensure greater accountability for both industries and regulatory inspectors. He said the Sindh government, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, was implementing the Jam Sakro Outfall Drain Project to protect communities in the coastal belt of Thatta district from flooding and improve climate resilience. In his remarks, NEFH president Naeem Qureshi said nearly 80 per cent of environmental challenges in urban centres could be effectively addressed through an empowered and efficient local government system Energy expert Irfan Ahmed shared that air-conditioners accounted for nearly 60pc of Pakistan’s peak summer electricity demand of around 60 gigawatts. He emphasised that strict energy conservation and reduction of transmission losses were essential, noting that every unnecessary kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed resulted in the emission of approximately half a kilogram of carbon dioxide. Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari of the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the department maintained close coordination with district administrations to facilitate timely responses to heatwaves, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events. He added that increasing humidity in coastal cities such as Karachi had intensified uncomfortable summer conditions. Former Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association chairman Dr Kaiser Waheed called for specialised training of medical professionals to effectively manage diseases and health emergencies associated with climate change and environmental degradation. Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026