Ali Zaidi Calls Meeting to Diffuse Keamari’s Poisonous Gas Spread

In the wake of saddening Keamari Gas Incident, a high level meeting was co- chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and Provincial Minister for Local Government Sindh Nasir Hussain Shah was held at Karachi Port Trust Head Office on 18th February 2020. It was well attended by Member Sindh Provincial Assembly Shahnawaz Jadoon, commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani, Additional I.G Ghulam Nabi, COS 5 Corps Brig Sami, Col IS 5 Corps Colonel Nasir, Rangers 90 Wing Lt Col Shabbir Nasser, DG SEPA Mr. Naeem Mughal, HEJ Dr Amir Haider and Dr Shakil Ahmed, Marine Environment Specialist Rashid Yahya Usmani and other KPT high officials. The meeting showed deep concerns over gas leakage situation which has affected more than two hundred residents of Keamari and its adjoining areas, and also expressed grief over the loss of precious lives. Environment experts, scientists and representatives of the law enforcement agencies presented various options to resolve the crisis whereby a precautionary measure be adopted to shift the soya bean carrying vessel to Port Qasim to offload the remaining cargo there. Furthermore a committee has been formed, headed by Iftikhar Shallwani, Commissioner Karachi, to probe into this matter for further ascertaining the root cause behind it and determining reasons which led to the incident that commenced from 16th February 2020. This has been termed as a localized incident affecting few neighborhoods of the railway colony without further spreading to other parts of the city. Area locality have been cautioned though to take precautions to avoid dangerous implications of the gas leak.