Shahbaz orders amendment to environmental laws

Says performance of environment department not satisfactory

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has issued instructions for reorganisation of Environment Department and restructuring of Environment Protection Agency for controlling increasing environmental pollution. 

Addressing a meeting through a video link for reviewing measures for controlling environmental pollution and climate change, the chief minister said a comprehensive strategy should be adopted for overcoming environmental pollution and maintaining a clean atmosphere. Environmental Protection Agency will be autonomous and responsible for implementation of environmental laws, he added.

The chief minister said immediate measures should be taken for necessary amendment to environmental laws and recommendations should be submitted in this regard within seven days. He said the performance of environment department was not satisfactory and it would have to display efficiency in accordance with the modern demands. 

He said Environment department would have to play a vigorous role in this regard. He expressed indignation over laxity in the setting up of proposed agency for environmental protection, failure in its timely activation and directed that Environmental Protection Agency should be restructured for improving efficiency of the department. He said inclusion of the experts in this sector in environmental protection agency for its capacity building was a pressing need and immediate measures should be taken for this purpose. He said that provision of a clean atmosphere to the masses was the responsibility of the institutions concerned and they would have to discharge their duties efficiently. 

road safety authority: Shahbaz Sharif has approved setting up of Road Safety Authority in the province.

The authority will take immediate measures with regard to driving licensing system, traffic engineering, vehicles fitness system, vehicle registration, database and management system.

According to a handout, Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed will be chairman of the authority.

Addressing a meeting through a video link at Civil Secretariat, here Tuesday, the chief minister said road safety system was of vital importance for protection of human lives; therefore, the model of Sweden would be followed for this purpose. He said that introduction of the new system would reduce traffic accidents. He said the measures regarding road safety would be made a part of syllabus as it was essential to promote awareness among the people in this regard.

Shahbaz Sharif said establishment of the authority would result in an effective system of road safety as it would eliminate bogus driving licensing and only trained drivers would be able to come on the roads. He said the scope of vehicle inspection and certification would be extended to the whole province. He directed the authorities concerned to come forward and perform their responsibilities with efficiency and commitment for ensuring road safety.

He issued instructions for setting up a steering committee which would be headed by Provincial Minister for Excise Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and chief secretary and would give final shape to the measures with regard to road safety.

Minister for Excise & Taxation Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed MPA, chief secretary, Planning & Development Chairman and authorities concerned participated in the meeting through a video link.