KARACHI, July 12: The provincial government plans launching of a campaign in the next few days against smoke-emitting and noise-making vehicles. The campaign would be launched by the traffic police department in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The vehicles found to be a source of air and noise pollution would either be impounded or heavy fines would be imposed on their owners, for violating vehicle fitness rules, under the Environment Protection Act.

Presiding over a departmental meeting here on Friday, the Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy, Faisal Malik, asked the concerned officials to initiate legal proceedings against the factories responsible for air and water pollution in residential areas.

He advised the officials to maintain a close coordination with the law enforcement agencies during the campaign to avoid any untoward incident. He also asked them to launch a public awareness drive simultaneously with the campaign.

The launch of the dual drive, he stressed, should widely be publicized through media and banners in order to caution people not to bring their faulty vehicles on roads without removing the faults to avoid legal action.

The adviser appealed to the citizens to ensure that their vehicles were fit to be operated as the government had determined to conserve Nature and protect the environment from pollution.—PPI