Lahore, (PR) : In an ongoing effort to mitigate smog during October and December, the Punjab government has taken significant steps toward implementing Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for environmental improvement. A grand operation has been launched across Punjab to ensure the environment is free from toxic smoke and to check the quality of fuel. Under the directives of Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, an order has been issued under Section 6(1)(t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997.
According to the order, every petrol station across the province will undergo monthly inspections of the fuel being sold. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff, in collaboration with oil marketing companies, will conduct these inspections, and the fuel will be chemically analyzed in EPA’s fuel quality laboratories. The Punjab government’s directive mandates that the fuel be tested according to the standards set by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). Strict legal action will be taken against petrol stations that do not sell fuel meeting the legal standards.
The Chief Minister of Punjab had earlier announced a comprehensive vision for environmental improvement and smog prevention across the province. This initiative includes the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations across all sectors, including industry, agriculture, vehicles, and brick kilns. Brick kilns without Zigzag technology have already been demolished. The government is also implementing measures for monitoring toxic smoke in industries and promoting the use of modern technology. Arrests have been made to curb the smoke caused by the burning of crops. For the first time in Punjab, modern technology and drones have been used to take action against vehicles emitting excessive smoke. Now, legal and administrative steps are being initiated to prevent the use of substandard and poor-quality fuel. Previously, the Punjab government had also taken measures to ban the use of shopping bags, including distributing millions of special bags to the public during Eid-ul-Adha to prevent pollution.
The order was issued by the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh.