KARACHI, PAKISTAN: The City Traffic Police and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission in collaboration with the City government has planned to carry out a feasible study and development of transportation plan of City, the police spokesman said on Tuesday.

The objective of this project is to assess the role of vehicular emission to the environmental pollution and its impact on air, water, soil, architecture, trees and human health.

The study will be the basis of socio-economic development and requires comprehensive study at different locations with maximum traffic flow. A mobile pollution monitoring laboratory fully equipped will be used for the purpose.

A meeting in this regard was chaired by Mohammad Yamin Khan, the DIG Traffic Karachi at his office on Tuesday.

A three-member delegation of Suparco headed by the Deputy Chief Manager, Dr Badar Ghori attended it.

The meeting spelled out the details of the project with special reference to stationing of mobile labs at 26 identified sites for which, the traffic police will provide necessary staff round the clock at these sites, according to the spokesman.

Traffic police will also help in collecting socio-economic data from local residents besides collection of blood specimens of highly exposed traffic police personnel, shopkeepers and hawkers etc.

Such site surveys will be useful for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the vehicular traffic, establishment of baseline data to determine and estimate the extent of pollution and damages done to health and environment by the ‘major pollutants’ concerning the understanding of environmental hazards and identification of remedial measures so that the problem of the city pollution could be controlled as soon as possible, according to a Press statement.

CDGK establishes Emergency Relief Centre: PPIadds:Acting City Nazim Karachi Tariq Hasan on Tuesday said that an Emergency Relief Centre, with representatives of all civic agencies, had been established to provide all necessary facilities to the citizens of coastal areas in case of any emergency.

Talking to a foreign TV channel he said City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has prepared a comprehensive plan to provide relief to citizens in case of any emergency.

The people of coastal areas in the region need establishment of a station with sensitive instrument which can inform them before time in case of any emergency, he said adding that Pakistan, India and other countries in the region have to take steps collectively in this regard.

He said thousands of people had been killed in tsunami disaster and the efforts for resettlement of affectees still continue.

He suggested the government to charge Rs 25 through electricity bill to collect money for the help of tsunami hit people.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jan-2005/26/nationalnews11.php