KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah  said that reducing Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in wastewater treatment was crucial for environmental protection, regulatory compliance and public health.

He said employing combination of physical, biological, chemical and advanced treatment methods could achieve significant reductions, leading to cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and cost-effective operations. Meeting with 14-member Polish Business delegation led by Polish Ministry of Climate Change and Environment along with Polish Ambassador Maciej Pisarski, they discussed investment opportunities in province, particularly in renewable energy, water, air, green building and smart cities projects. Ministers, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Dost Mohammad Rahmoo, acting Chief Secretary Musadiq Khan and Chairman P&D Najam Shah were present. CM said that Environmental Protection Agency has installed over 200 wastewater treatment plants in various industrial estates across Sindh.

Additionally, 87 tanneries were now required to treat their effluent through combined effluent treatment plant specifically designed for tanneries.  Proper handling and storage facilities are necessary to prevent odours, pests and contamination. CM and delegation agreed that treatment and disposal of sludge could be costly, requiring significant investment in infrastructure and technology. Finding sustainable and environmentally friendly disposal methods for sludge is persistent challenge. CM said that meeting increasingly stringent national and international air quality standards required significant investments in emission control technologies.

It was agreed that continuous monitoring and accurate reporting of PM emissions were necessary for compliance, adding to operational complexity and cost.