Section 144 imposed across Punjab on burning stubble

LAHORE:

As part of measures to prevent smog, the Punjab government has decided to impose Section 144 across the province to ban the burning of crop residues and garbage.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Acting Chief Secretary, who in an official hand-out released by the CS office was termed Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal.

The administrative secretaries of different departments including local government, housing, transport, director-general Provincial Disaster Management Authority and officers concerned participated in the meeting.

Acting Chief Secretary Abdullah Sumbal directed the officers to intensify the ongoing crackdown on industrial units and vehicles causing environmental pollution.

He said it was imperative to take pre-emptive measures against smog, adding that all the relevant departments should carry out collective efforts to mitigate the impact of pollution. He also issued orders to the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to prepare a framework for the prevention of smog.

The acting chief secretary said the ban on the use of substandard fuel in steel mills and factories would be enforced and administrative and police officers would provide full support during anti-smog operations.

He asked the agriculture department to promote farm mechanisation to address the problem of stubble burning.

The EPD secretary gave a detailed briefing at the meeting. He said anti-smog squads have been formed in all districts.

He said the crackdown is underway against industries and vehicles that cause air pollution. Giving details, he mentioned that this year the authorities conducted 19,000 inspections, and imposed fines of Rs440 million, besides registering 883 cases and sealing 664 units.

He added that a control room has been set up in EPD to oversee the anti-smog measures.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2022.