RAWALPINDI, Sept 13: Punjab government plans to phase out the two-stroke engine vehicles aimed to reduce pollution, said provincial environment secretary environment Kamran Lashari on Saturday.

Speaking at a briefing on “Environment and district governments’ role”, he said the manufacture of the two-stroke engine vehicles was being stopped.

Vehicle emissions represent the greatest source of air pollution in Punjab and a major contribution comes from vehicles driven by two-stroke engines, which are a popular mode of transport in cities.

The carbon monoxide emission for two-stroke engines is 17 gram per passenger vehicle.

He said specially-designed silencers were being recommended for installation in rickshaws and motorcycles to check sound pollution.

The official urged the district governments to act against adulteration in petroleum products. He said the district governments had been empowered under sections 141, 142, 143 and 144 of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001 to check adulteration.

He said the district Nazims could delegate these powers to any officer to run a campaign against adulteration.

District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani informed the meeting about the steps being taken by the district government for protection of environment and ending the menace of adulteration.

He called for improved coordination between different tiers of the government viz federal, provincial and district to make the environmental projects more effective.

Mr Kiani asked the government to give incentives for increasing the usage of CNG.

He said a drive had been started against smoke-emitting vehicles and pressure horns on public transport vehicles. He said those found guilty of driving smoke-emitting vehicles with pressure horns were fined.

The Nazim said the district government discouraged the setting up of cottage industries in congested residential localities. He said the provincial health department had been moved for establishment of a hospital waste disposal mechanism, but, so far, no progress had been made in this regard.

Mr Kiani said the drive against food adulteration was going on in full swing, adding that 11,000 litres of milk being transported in unhygienic containers was destroyed to check the practice.

Similarly, he said, adulterated spices in large quantities were destroyed to show the district government’s firm resolve to root out the menace.