LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday took up the smog issue, while the opposition members sought one more day for preparation for a “meaningful debate on the matter”.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan said that no other business would be taken up but smog on Wednesday, urging the lawmakers to take the issue seriously because the Punjab’s capital was witnessing a 20 per cent increase in respiratory diseases annually.

He said that the masses should be taken along for the cause as without their cooperation it would be difficult to change the situation.

Opening the discussion on smog, environment minister Marriyum Aurangzeb listed the steps the government was taking to reduce the level of smog in and around Lahore.

She said that 650 kilns not running on the zigzag technology had been demolished, while thermal drone technology was being used to monitor the working of other kilns.

She said e-buses and rickshaws were being introduced in the city to cut emissions.

There are 6,800 industrial units in Lahore, but there’s no mechanism to monitor their emissions, the minister regretted, adding that a policy is being introduced to improve the situation.

She saidsuper seeders were being given to farmers at 60pc subsidy to check rice stubble burning, adding that so far 1,000 units have been handed over to the growers.

The minister declared that the government was going to introduce restrictions for the construction industry within three months, while a complete ban on the use of plastic bags was also on the cards to curb environmental pollution.

Ms Aurangzeb said so far four million trees have been planted under the government’s ‘Plant for Pakistan’ scheme.

She said that a parliamentary committee on smog is being formed, while Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is also going to write to the chief ministers of Indian Punjab and Delhi for taking measures to control smog originating in their jurisdictions.

The minister said that PC-I of all development project would include one percent area allocated for greenery.

Punjab Assembly opposition leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar and some MPAs urged the chair to put off the smog discussion for a day so that they could further prepare for a comprehensive and meaningful debate on the subject.

At this, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for Thursday.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2024