LAHORE: The Environment Protection Department (EPD) will provide funding for launching of 100 eco-friendly buses in Lahore while 30 air and 15 water monitoring stations will be established throughout the province, says Environmental Protection Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja.
Presiding over a meeting, the minister vowed that all possible measures will be taken to deal with the challenge of environmental changes. Ensuring the protection of the environment is a big challenge but it would be met.
“Unfortunately, Pakistan currently ranks fourth among the most polluted countries in the world,” he regretted and said under the direction of Chief Minister Parvez Elahi, steps will be taken to protect the environment.
“Pending work of the department will be done immediately. The department will be made strong financially,” he said.
Basharat directed that other relevant departments should be involved to make the action plan effective and in the next meeting, secretaries of cooperatives, transport and forests should also be called to take matters forward quickly.
He pointed out that the smog season is near after the rainy season. “Prepare now to deal with this threat,” said Mr. Raja.
The provincial minister said he will request the CM to immediately release Rs80m for installing air quality index gadgets. “Anti-smog measures will be taken keeping in mind the experiences of the past years,” said the minister.
Basharat said 426 million trees had been planted to combat climate change. “This year, the department has set a target of planting 100 million more trees.”
He said 68 tyre pyrolysis plants were sealed across Punjab. As many as 201 units were sealed in three months for violating the law while 1,372 smoke-emitting vehicles had been impounded since May. He directed that action should be continued against vehicles emitting smoke.
Secretary Environment Naeem Raouf told the meeting that digitisation of business processes and establishment of state-of-the-art laboratory are being worked on. Early steps are being taken to deal with the possible smog.
Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022
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