ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The Sindh government has formulated a detailed master plan, and submitted it to the federal government for approval, to improve the fast-declining infrastructure of Karachi city.

Official sources told Dawn here on Monday that the Sindh government has sought substantial funds from the Centre for rehabilitating the city's infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the sources said, had offered $120 million special funding for the improvement of infrastructure, especially roads and government buildings in Pakistan.

As a first step, the Sindh government wanted to reinforce the institutions concerned in environmental management through transfer of technology from various advanced countries, including Japan.

An integrated environmental management of Korangi area is expected to be undertaken during the current financial year. The programme also includes improvement in the situation arising out of the industrial waste water quality.

The Sindh government has informed the Centre that the population of Karachi metropolitan area had risen to about 10.1 million in the year 2000 due to influx from different parts of the country.

Increase in population and expansion of urban areas have exceedingly harmed the infrastructure of the city. This has also degraded industrial waste water quality and environmental conditions in Karachi and its surrounding areas.

Toxic industrial pollution had been detected in the ground water at many industrial sites. In the Korangi industrial areas alone, there are 192 leather and allied industries that are causing severe pollution in coastal areas and undermining living conditions and overall environment in the city.

Also the ground water was found to be contaminated with a considerable amount of chromium. In many residential areas, a heavy amount of chromium was detected. Most waste water of three areas is discharged into two major rivers - Lyari and Malir.

The indiscriminate discharge of industrial affluent and hazardous waste has resulted in serious environmental deterioration, causing significant damage to the ecosystem, as well as aquatic and human life.

Sindh government maintains that the environment of Karachi and its surrounding areas is no longer healthy and productive due to the pollution of rivers/ground water and other sewage-related problems.

To cope with the situation, the present and future projected problems needed to be analysed fully from technical, institutional and financial point of view. In this regard, financial and technical support from Japan has also been sought.