Provincial Minister EPD chairs a meeting to control vehicular pollution

Provincial minister Environment Protection Department (EPD) M.Rizwan chaired high level meeting of cabinet sub-committee on Smog for implementations of anti smog measures at committee room of civil secretariat on Thursday.

The secretary EPD Saima Saeed present agenda of the 2nd meeting and briefed to the minister about follow up of actions taken on the decisions of first meeting. She briefed strategy and action plan for controlling vehicular pollution, checking fuel adulteration, checking air pollution from stone crushing and cement mining plants, action plan against use of sub-standard fuels and proposals to check air pollution for combating smog.

Saima Saeed also told to the house about TORs of the committee and shared emission report according to FAO. She also present a report about Stone Crushers, told to the minister that major clusters of stone crushers exist in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, DG Khan & Mianwali, action had been taken against the crusher of Sargodha, EPOs had been issued to all stone Crushers of DG Khan, cases of almost all crushers of Rawalpindi had already been decided by PET, while implementation of the decisions was in process and water sprinkle system was installed on all crushers of Mianwali.

Representative of transport told to the minister that according to VICS official vehicles being checked and also a negotiation with World Bank continued to inspect private vehicles also. Representatives of health department told that collecting data of patients affected by SMOG, an APP regarding smog response had been created and established Smog response desks at districts levels.

Representative of finance department told that the Punjab government is ensuring the provision of financial assistance for the installation of clean production technology in industries causing pollution and promotion of green investment through Punjab Green Development Programme.

The minster M.Rizwan said that according to smog action plan all the relevant departments have to perform well to make pollution free environment. He said that we all have to make long term plans to improve AQI because all the nation have to breath in this existing air. The minister directed to transport department send a letter to all DCs and DPOs regarding make a comprehensive strategy to control vehicle pollution in their respective areas.

He directed to representative of health department to make a comprehensive policy to dump or waste solid waste of hospitals and also directed to representative of LWM to make arrangements to sprinkle water on daily basis at dusty roads.

The minister said that our aim is to provide a friendly environment to our children and for this much effort still needed. On this occasion representatives of finance, industry, transport, agriculture, forestry, environment, LG&CD, SH&ME and P&SH were present in the meeting.