
In a major environmental decision, the Sindh Cabinet has approved a complete ban on the operation of tyre pyrolysis plants across the province to protect public health and reduce toxic air pollution.
According to official sources, the decision was taken on the recommendation of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), which warned that pyrolysis activities were turning Karachi’s air increasingly hazardous and harmful to human health. Businesses operating such plants have been instructed to shut down operations within one month.
The cabinet also approved the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Prevention of Substandard Fuel/Tyres) Rules 2025 under the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014. The new rules aim to curb the production and sale of substandard fuel, including tyre pyrolysis oil, which has been identified as a major pollutant.
Chief Minister Sindh directed SEPA to ensure strict enforcement of the ban, emphasizing that environmental standards under the Basel Convention and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) guidelines must be fully implemented. “Protecting the environment and public health is non-negotiable,” the Chief Minister said.
During the cabinet meeting, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah also raised the issue of Sukkur IBA University employees. The Chief Minister assured that their concerns would be addressed promptly and necessary steps taken to resolve their problems.