Smoke emitting vehicles to be seized

Punjab cabinet approves amendments for environmental protection

LAHORE:

The Punjab cabinet has approved amendments to the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 to increase the fine on vehicles that emit smoke.

Members of the cabinet were informed during a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif that a vehicle operating without a fitness certificate would be fined and impounded after a one-time notice.

The cabinet also approved several other environment protection initiatives, including the setting up of district plastic management committees to address enforcement issues. The deputy commissioners and district police officers will chair the committees that will include representatives of traders and relevant authorities.

The district committees will have the power to impose fines to ensure implementation of the plastic elimination campaign. They will also have the power to seal factories manufacturing non-standard and environment unfriendly plastic bags besides lowering the registration and renewal fee of a quality and environment-friendly manufacturing factory.

The cabinet also approved the recruitment of 310 environment inspectors and the purchase of 250 e-bikes and standard uniforms for them.

It approved the establishment of the Punjab Examination, Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) besides the CM Punjab laptop scheme. The CM directed the authorities concerned to give laptops to students as soon as possible.

The provincial cabinet approved Khelta Punjab Games 2024. More than 115,000 players have been registered for the talent hunt programme and 6,000 youths will be given internship in the sports department at Rs25,000 per month. The cabinet was informed that private universities would provide 50 young athletes free education along with sports facilities.

The cabinet approved the Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card for Small Farmers and extended the scheme to big farmers too. It approved an act for the establishment of the Punjab Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Authority and Horticulture Authority.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz issued directives to issue festival card for Hindu and Sikh community members in Punjab, through which Rs10,000 each will be paid to deserving families on Guru Nanak's birth anniversary and Diwali. The cabinet also approved a proposal to open technical universities in Punjab and to fill Grade 1-15 vacancies in the Joharabad Wildlife Park.

Addressing a press conference, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the provincial government was filing cases against vehicles emitting smoke and those burning crop residue to combat smog.

She said the Punjab government is taking all possible measures to keep the environment clean.

Housing scheme

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also visited an under-construction house of a woman recipient of loan under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme.

She inspect the house being built in Kot Lakhpat on a three-marla plot.

The chief minister presented the cheque of the second loan installment to the owner, Subiya Munir, and directed the authorities concerned to gift her the essential furniture too.

CM Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government would bear the educational expenses of the daughters of the woman. "Personal home is a right of every citizen, I am not doing a favour to anyone," she added.

Subiya Munir said she had received the first cheque on October 2 and applying through the portal and her home would be built in a few months. The woman is a single parent who works as a decorator in an event management firm.