Provincial Govt To Set Up Punjab Clean Air Commission

The provincial government has decided to set up the Punjab Clean Air Commission to control pollution and smog.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2018 ) :The provincial government has decided to set up the Punjab Clean Air Commission to control pollution and smog.

Recommendations and proposals in this regard were given in a meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, here on Saturday by the departments concerned to prevent smog and pollution.

The meeting was told that brick-kilns would remain closed as per court orders from October 20 to December 31.

The ban on burning of residue of crops would be imposed across Punjab from October 1.

It was decided to evolve an effective and people-friendly strategy for disbanding two-stroke engines, Qingqi (motorcycle) rickshaws and smoke-emitting vehicles.

A campaign on the social media would be launched to create awareness about the damage caused to environment by burning of solid waste and a comprehensive mass media campaign would also be devised for spreading knowledge among people about smog prevention.

Punjab CM directed the authorities concerned that air-monitoring equipment should be repaired immediately.

He said that air quality system in Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan and Faisalabad be made functional.

He said, "Smog badly disrupts daily life; therefore, a sustainable policy to prevent it be devised at the earliest." The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) should devise a system for in-time information about smog and other environmental issues.

The South Asia Coordination body be contacted to prevent pollution entering Pakistan from the neighbouring countries.

Among others who attended the meeting included Federal Environment Minister Amin Aslam, senior provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan, provincial ministers Mian Aslam Iqbal, Sibtain Khan Niazi, Malik Nouman, while the IGP and secretaries of departments concerned were also present.

Committees have been established at tehsil and district levels for monitoring of measures to control environmental pollution, meeting was told.