PM calls for relocating industries to address pollution

ISLAMABAD:

In order to combat prevalent air pollution, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed the federal and provincial governments to get major industrial units such as brick kilns and steel furnaces relocated outside the cities with effective restrictions.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting on pollution-related issues in the country, also called for incentivizing the use of quality fuel and gradual replacement of vehicles with electric vehicles (EV).

Directing the concerned authorities to switch to electric busses for all metros, the premier highlighted that developed countries were also fast shifting to modern technology including conversion of public transport to electric vehicles (EV).

Terming the pollution a silent killer, PM Imran regretted that environmental protection had never been on the priority list of the past governments. “Now there is no more room for negligence,” he remarked.

The prime minister underlined the importance of saving our big cities from pollution as it has huge social and economic costs.

“We must incentivise the industry for shifting their units out of the city and the use of modern technology for environment safety,” he added.

The prime minister directed the Punjab Government to adopt a comprehensive smog control policy at the earliest.

He directed the federal government and provincial governments of Punjab and KP to immediately work on a short, medium and long term comprehensive plan for forward-looking policies with the timelines for implementation.

Read Pakistan’s inexorable tryst with pollution

Earlier, the prime minister was briefed that vehicles, industrial units, burning of waste material and burning of crops were the major sources of air pollution.

The prime minister also stressed the need for dialogue with regional countries to protect the environment through collective efforts.

“We should also take all steps to increase the green cover of our cities through the Miyawaki forest technique,” he added.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of a massive public awareness campaign to bring behavioural change in people for environmental protection.

The meeting was attended by SAPM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, Minister of State on Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and senior officers concerned. Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar joined the meeting via video link.

CWAs to ensure the welfare of overseas Pakistanis

Also on Friday, the prime minister, in his meeting with his recently appointed advisor on overseas Pakistanis, Ayub Khan Afridi, directed to make the system of Community Welfare Attaches (CWAs) effective and operational to ensure the welfare and betterment of Overseas Pakistanis – a precious asset for the country.

Matters relating to the dual nationality with Spain and the issuance of visas for Pakistanis living abroad without Pakistan-origin cards were discussed in the meeting.