Law: Environmental Protection Act notified

LAHORE: The Law Department on Friday notified The Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Act 2012, after the time, stipulated in the Constitution for the Punjab Governor Latif Khan Khosa to sign a bill passed by the Punjab Assembly into law, ran out. Under the Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Act 2012, the government will establish a council, the Punjab Environmental Protection Council, headed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The environment minister will be its vice chairperson. Thirty-five members will comprise the council. The maximum fine for industries causing pollution has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs5 million. The daily fine has been increased from Rs100,000 to Rs500,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2012.