Ministry issues red notices to mills
The Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and the Ministry of Environment Protection have issued red notices to five mills to immediately install environment-friendly, modern technology in the mills.
The Ministry of Environment Protection has earlier slapped a ban on brick kilns and smoke-emitting vehicles to control smog.
The PSIC has also announced easy loans up to Rs10 million for installation of new environment-friendly technology and machinery.
The corporation has also started one-window operations at all its offices.
According to the Environment Protection Department, an awareness campaign against smog has also been started.
Environment-friendly technology is available for these mills. Application of this technology can control smog.
The Environment Protection Department said it would continue this campaign until September. In October, these five categories of mills would be sealed if they failed to install environment-friendly technology, machinery and equipment.
The Environment Protection Department has announced anti-smog operation well in advance this year during which smoke-emitting brick kilns, car, factories and junkyards would be sealed.
Steel mills and stone-crushing machines would also be sealed if they failed to install environment-friendly technology. From November 1 to October 15 no smoke-emitting mills, kilns, stone-crushing machines, cars and factories shall be allowed to operate.
Only environment-friendly factories, mills and kilns would be able to run during the smog season.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2023.