Lahore, June 02, 2022 (PPI-OT):Secretary EPD Doctor Naeem Rauf said that EPD is implementing the PGDP with support of World Bank to strengthen environmental Governance and promoting Green investment in Punjab. He said that all the allied departments have to work hard to tackle pollution, damaging environment badly. He expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting in P and D’s committee room to review Health Advisory System by PGDP of World Bank.

Professor Dr Fahim briefed to the chair that recurring smog episodes with increased intensity and frequency call for a collaborative effort between India and Pakistan as regional cooperation is necessary to address the issue of air pollution. It was revealed in a study conducted by Environment Protection Department of Punjab’s Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit.

Study titled “Preparation of Health Advisory System for Critical Air Pollution Events” further recommended that, a consolidated action plan to limit the Critical Air Pollution Events (CAPEs) and improving its tendency to accommodate Tran’s boundary air pollution to certain extents is mandatory.

Project Director Waqar-u-Din suggested that Punjab Government must reconsider air quality management (AQM) components, such as setting targets to reduce air pollution levels, assessing air quality and source status, developing air quality control strategies, implementing policies on ground, and undertaking ongoing evaluation on frequent basis.

He also stressed that the action plan should be a multipronged strategy dealing with policy matters, capacity building, institutional coordination, impact assessment, public involvement, and effective implementation.

Secretary EPD Naeem Rauf said that Primary focus should be on air pollution hotspots for immediate actions and measures to be taken. While in parallel, strategies should also be devised to improve the air quality across the region. He also highlighted the steps taken by the Punjab Government to reduce the impacts of air pollution such as ban on crop burning, reducing emissions from vehicles and other sources.

Punjab Government is willing to reduce the burden of polluted air upon its citizens but it was a common responsibility of all us. He also suggested to teach environment from Nursery to aware our children from the beginning. Representative of Health, forest, transport, police, Labour and HR, Agriculture, EPA, city traffic Police, PDMA, PHIMC, DGPR were present in the meeting

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations,
Government of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-9201390-86
Website: www.punjab.gov.pk