KARACHI - Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday urged the society to play its role in reducing environmental degrading as environment has direct bearing on the health of the people. Chief Minister was addressing a Seminar on "Environmental Challenges in Sindh" organized by Environment & Alternative Energy Department Sindh to Celebrate the World Environment Day here at local hotel. He said that relationship between 'Environment' and 'the existence of life' is so vital, that health and education though very important subjects became secondary. Chief Minster maintained that PPP has always accorded due importance to environment and included it in the 'Five E's in the manifesto putting it in one of five top most priorities of the present government. He promised that Government will formulate comprehensive policy to attend all environmental issues effectively and promptly. He said that our Government would make all out efforts to provide relief to such people. Qaim emphasised the need to adopt a coordinated approach by taking the representatives of the trade and industry bodies on the board. He said that Federal Government and Provincial Government along with the managements of industrial areas and industrialists should all contribute and ensure that effective and mitigating measures are taken to reduce environmental degradation of our natural resources rivers, canals, air, land, and sea. He remarked that air pollution, especially in our cities, primary caused by public service vehicles, which are not in good condition. He further said that Government is promoting mass transit systems in Karachi and Hyderabad as to minimise the air pollution besides inducting CNG buses and Rickshaws on fast track basis. Syed Qaim Ali Shah expressed concerns over the release of sewage in the River Indus, its canals and ultimately in the sea. He said that except Karachi and Hyderabad there is absolutely no system in place in other parts of the province resulting our major lakes and all other water bodies have become contaminated and this water is used for drinking purpose in all down stream cities and towns while the district governments do not have financial resources and technical expertise to attend these issues. He pointed out that quality of ground water is also cause of concern especially where excess to surface water is limited mainly due to use of fertilisers and pesticides. He directed Local Government, Agriculture and Environment Departments to take coordinated and integrated approach to minimise the threats and hazards of environmental degradation in the province of Sindh. Earlier, Sindh Minister for Environmental & Alternative Energy Askari Taqvi presented welcome address and highlighted progress and problems of the department in detail. GuIzar Feroze, Chairnlan Standing Committee on Environment, FPCCI and others also addressed the Seminar and read their papers.