RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to install an air and water quality monitoring system in 10 districts of Punjab including Rawalpindi to deal with smog and other environmental problems caused by climate change.

Under the Punjab Green Development Project, the monitoring system will be installed in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Vehari and other cities.

For which the World Bank will provide an easy loan of $200 million. Air purified towers will be installed. The towers will be installed near the border area and industrial areas.

A senior official of the environment department said that China will help with the installation of the new monitoring system. He said that a policy was also being formed regarding the use of plastic to eliminate environmental pollution.

He said that there was a plan to establish an environment endowment fund of $50 million under the Punjab Green Financing. “The inspection of equipment that causes environmental pollution will also be included in the certification of motor vehicles,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2022