E-mapping of industries, brick-kilns complete

LAHORE:For the first time in Pakistan, the Punjab Environment Department (EPD) has started allotting unique identification numbers to industries and kilns.

Punjab Environment DG Imran Hamid Sheikh said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed e-mapping of all industries and brick kilns and unique identification numbers have been issued to all units.

He said every inspection of the EPA force will be recorded under a unique identification number and entry of identification number in the Eco Watch app has been made mandatory for more transparency and effective monitoring in the field inspection process.

“It will be necessary to enter the identification number of each unit or kiln during its inspection,” he said, adding as soon as the inspection data was uploaded to the Eco Watch app, the image, video and location will become part of the record.

This new order has come into effect and action against inspection team or officials/officers will be taken under the PEDA Act for violation, the DG EPA warned. He said a complete data on inspection history and violations of each unit will be available immediately and records of violations of all kilns and industrial units and action taken against them will be stored sequentially.

This modern system will help in controlling environmental pollution and ensuring compliance with environmental laws, the DG said and concluded that necessary instructions have already been issued to all relevant departments, officers and field inspectors.