Kilns to shift to zigzag technology

LAHORE:The Punjab government and All Pakistan Brick Kiln Association (APBKA) have reached an agreement to transfer all brick kilns in the province to the zigzag technology till December 31, 2020.

Both sides agreed in this regard in a meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal here on Sunday. Provincial Minister for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan, All Pakistan Brick Kiln Association President Shoaib Niazi, the owners of brick kilns and the officers concerned attended the meeting.

Brick kilns of central Punjab from Jhelum to Okara will be transferred to zigzag technology within four months in the first phase. Brick kilns will be closed forever that failed to transfer to new technology within the stipulated time.

It was also decided in the meeting to close 84 new brick kilns having obsolete technology. These brick kilns will be demolished on failure to transfer to new technology within two months. An agreement will be signed with the brick kiln association for ensuring implementation of the decisions.

Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal said, “No brick kiln in the province would be closed as we do not want to increase difficulties of the common man by closing brick kilns.” He said that no brick kiln would be allowed to use substandard fuel, otherwise, strict action would be taken against such kilns. He said that after December 31, 2020, no brick kiln would run without zigzag technology. He said that it was the top priority of the government to provide clean environment to the people. He said that steps would be taken to control smog but no one would be made jobless by closing the brick kilns.

Road safety event: A function in connection with World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was held at Lahore Zoo on Sunday.

The SSP Operations Lahore attended the function and informed the gathering that the objective behind holding the event was to educate the citizens on major reasons of accidents.

Measures for road safety stressed: The Punjab Emergency Service/Rescue 1122 on Sunday marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims with the theme of “Life is not a car part” in all districts of Punjab. The Rescue 1122 also paid rich tribute to all the emergency responders, including rescuers, police and medical professionals, who deal with the traumatic aftermath of road crashes daily.

In this regard, awareness walks, seminars, rallies and workshops were organised across Punjab to raise awareness among citizens for the prevention of road traffic crashes.

The victims of road crashes were invited to the seminars to share their experiences of grievances, feelings, serious injuries, disabilities and loss of precious lives of their near and dear ones in road traffic crashes. They stressed upon for adopting safety measures while driving on roads. The road safety experts also regretted on the alarmingly increasing number of road traffic crashes in which thousands of people die and crippled annually.

The safety experts and speakers requested the parents to not allow their underage to drive. Ceremony for MBBS students: A “White Coats” ceremony will be held today on Ameer Uddin Medical College Campus in which former principals of the college, MBBS students, their parents faculty members would participate.

Post Graduate Medical Institute and Ameer Uddin Medical College Principal Prof Dr Sardar Muhammad Alfareed Zafar said the day would be remarkable for the students as would be entering their new era of educational life. He said the students would be wearing white coats with a commitment to serve the ailing humanity.

He congratulated all the 100 students of MBBS of AMC who would be wearing white coats and starting new career in the medical profession to join hospitals in future. Impersonators held: Gulberg police arrested three persons on charges of impersonating officials of a sensitive agency. The arrested accused were identified as Adil Ali, Rana Zahid and Ishfaq Ahmad.