Provincial Minister 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 EPA told to the minister that conversion of old technology brick kilns to zig zag a summary for approval of 31-12-2020 as final date of conversion of kilns was being initiated, 516 kilns converted to ZZK, field officer had been directed for persuading and action against defaulters,2394 EPOs had been issued. Kilns of Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Nankana sahib may be converted to ZZT by 31st March 2020, Kilns of remaining 13 districts of the red zone may be converted by 30th June 2020 and after 31st December 2020 no old technology may be allowed to operate. Representatives of environmental squad briefed to the house that squad being constituted in collaboration with traffic police, representative of industries department briefed to the minister that various industries being inspected while matters of fuel standards had been taken up with federal Govt, functional committees of senate on human rights has also taken up this matter. 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 secretary EPD to make a quick meeting with representatives of Kilns association to decide a time frame for conversion of new technology and also arrange meeting with commissioner Lahore and representative of local government to abolish Pyrolysis plants especially in district Lahore. 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.