The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has been asked to initiate due penal action including imposition of fines on elements involved in burning municipal waste in the metropolis. The directive to this effect was given by Sindh minister for Environment and Climate Change Mohammad TaimurTalpur as he chaired a meeting attended by representatives of different municipal agencies in the city including District Municipal Corporations (DMCs), cantonment boards, DHA, and others. The meeting was convened to adopt a collective strategy against the instances of dumping and burning of waste at open places in the city near residential localities. The representatives of relevant municipal agencies in the city including the DMCs were given assurance on the occasion that they would get help from the area police and district administration for taking stern penal action against elements involved in frequent instances of burning of waste near residential areas in Karachi and posing health risks to residents. The officials of the municipal agencies said on the occasion that prompt support of the district administration and police was of utmost importance for them to take a decisive action against the elements involved in dumping and burning of garbage in the vicinity of the residential areas. The provincial Environment minister on the occasion assured them that he would talk to senior officials of police and district administration in the city to assist them in this regard. Published in Daily Times, December 20th 2018.