Minister reviews progress on implementation of anti-smog steps

LAHORE :Provincial Environment Minister M Rizwan chaired a meeting of Cabinet Sub-committee on Smog for implementations of anti-smog measures at Civil Secretariat on Thursday.

Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal and Chief Secretary Major(r) Azam Suleman Khan also attended the meeting.

Environment Secretary Zahid Hussain presented the agenda of the third meeting and briefed the meeting about the follow-up of actions taken in pursuance of decisions taken in the second meeting regarding framework to ensure adherence to the timeline assigned for conversion of old technology brick kilns to zig-zag technology, installation of air-pollution control systems in industries, controlling vehicular pollution, checking air pollution from stone crushing and cement mixing plants and installation of dust control systems.

He also briefed that final timeframe had been decided with brick kiln association as all brick kilns would be shifted to latest technology till December 2020 in different steps. He said different awareness drives were continuing by EPA.

He said 30 stone crushers of Margalla Hills were being sealed on the directions of SC of Pakistan. The industries secretary briefed the meeting that a meeting was held with Pakistan Re-Rolling Mills Association to get an action plan with timeline to curb violation of environmental laws.

The representatives from the transport sector said a letter for release of funds had been written to federal government for installation of two-way catalytic convertors in the existing vehicles.

A representative of traffic police told that the Insepctor general of police issued instructions to all DPOs and CTOs for taking action against smoke-emitting vehicles. A representative of Agriculture Department told that 620 FIRs were registered against the violators the laws. A representative of Health Department told that the department had installed incinerators at the district level and directed the relevant hospital administration for proper disposal of hospital waste.

A representative from LG&CDD told that water was being sprinkled on the both sides of roads on a daily basis. The environment minister said that awareness activities should be enhanced and much effort was still needed to control the situation by all relevant departments.

He said a comprehensive strategy should be adopted by all relevant departments to eliminate fuel adulteration points in Lahore. He directed the environment secretary to make a proposal to constitute a committee to speed up cases of pending departmental inquiries.

Provincial Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal said, “For the fulfillment of dream of clean and green Pakistan, we all have to perform proactive role. We need to take on board all stakeholders.

The chief secretary directed the environment secretary to forward a letter to speed up process of pending inquiries. He also directed the district administration to chalk out a quick action plan to eliminate adulteration plants.