CM for environmental tech sharing

Green urban planning, energy, transport to be promoted with China

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has proposed a joint working group with China to curb pollution.

The Beijing-Punjab Working Group will work on knowledge sharing, policy making, capacity building, data sharing and technology transfer. Green urban planning, green energy and e-transport will be made possible through the collaboration to reduce carbon emissions.

Addressing a meeting on climate change and environment in Shanghai, the chief minister said, "China is a world leader in terms of infrastructure and trained human resource and is a miracle in industrial development. China has stunned the world by completely controlling environmental and air pollution."

She added, "China's effective and long-term measures depict its commitment for improving the environment."

She added, "For the first time, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a vision of a common destination. The Chinese president is not only involving others in his fruits of hard work but also sharing his accomplishments with them. China is supporting countries suffering from hazards of environmental pollution."

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the smog problem in Pakistan had become serious in the past few years.

The CM said, "Punjab is facing environmental problems. I want to make Punjab economically stable and a public welfare province. I am determined to make Punjab environmentally strong and resilient."

She added, "Usually, smog spells in Pakistan last for 100 to 120 days. Smog cannot be eliminated overnight. Short, medium and long-term planning is being undertaken for its eradication. China's lofty ambitions regarding smog are worthy of imitation and appreciation. I gained awareness about China's steps to eliminate smog during my visit of Blue Tech Clean Air Alliance. I got the opportunity to learn, understand and discuss many things with the experts at the Blue Tech Air Alliance. The smog ended in a few days and we are trying to find out the reasons for it."

The CM said, "We are determined to take every possible step to provide a clean environment to the people of Punjab. We have to close schools, industries and other sectors when smog spell arrives. Business, life and every work comes to a standstill due to smog. We are working on a daily basis to control air pollution. I gave the first comprehensive climate change, action plan and policy right after assuming my office. Environment-friendly reforms are being introduced in the agriculture, transport and industrial sectors. We are introducing mechanisation and e-mechanisation to bring innovation in the agriculture sector. Innovation is being brought by changing old and traditional methods of agriculture. The crop residue burning is being effectively controlled. The Punjab government is replacing old agricultural machinery with equipment like super seeder."

She added, "We introduced Punjab's first e-transport policy and are gradually converting traditional transport to e-transport on the pattern of China. We are ensuring vehicle fitness certification to prevent environmental pollution. The Punjab government is ensuring an environmentally friendly policy by undertaking real time monitoring of industrial units. Steps are being taken to relocate industry out of cities on the Chinese model."

She said the people of Punjab would be able to benefit from China's measures against pollution. "We look forward to China's full cooperation so as to reduce and eliminate environmental pollution. We can share ideas, technology and experiences with each other through the joint working group. We are working on green and renewable energy projects in Punjab."

She added, "We got a chance to see a huge wind energy corridor from the plane the moment we entered China. It was impressive to see the windmill project."

The chief minister said a solar panel project had been launched in Punjab.