KARACHI: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Wednesday lauded the decision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan to reduce smog and pollution, a statement said on Wednesday.

The PM has directed federal and provincial departments to furnish a detailed report in seven days regarding steps to improve the environment, it added.

Group leader of APCNGA, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said that the association can cooperate with the government to reduce air pollution and cut the oil import bill.

He said that the government can make it mandatory to install an emission control system in all the vehicles using diesel and petrol as fuel, which the compressed natural gas(CNG)-run vehicles do not require due to very low emissions.

The government is promoting electric vehicles but it will need years to become a choice of people therefore CNG should be promoted as its infrastructure is readily available, he added.

Paracha said that the government has allowed the CNG sector to import its gas which will end dependence on local gas, reduce pollution and oil import bill, provide affordable and clean fuel to consumers and provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of people.

The leader of the CNG sector said that India has banned entry of all vehicles in New Delhi except for CNG and electric vehicles and Pakistan can also follow suit.

The government can start the initiative from Lahore which is one of the most polluted cities in the world and expand to the five most-polluted cities where masses are under serious threat of health hazards.

He said that substandard fuel, adulteration, industrial waste and emissions, power plants and deforestation has enhanced the pollution level from 30 to 40 per cent in different cities.

Smog and air pollution has not emerged as a great threat to the masses but it is disturbing daily life and resulting in accidents causing loss of lives and property.

Paracha said that a recent study has estimated that in one year over 125,000 lives are lost to pollution in Pakistan which should be controlled otherwise the toll will increase.