ISLAMABAD: With the onset of the smog season, The Network for Consumer Protection has brought together business leaders, industry representatives and environmental enforcement officials from the twin cities to promote responsible business practices and encourage the private sector to reduce air pollution.
The seminar, titled ‘Cleaner Air through Responsible Business Practices’, was attended by representatives from the transport, steel, construction, plastics, food, hospitality and waste-management sectors alongside officials from the environmental protection agencies of the twin cities and other public institutions. Participants recorded their commitments to support cleaner air through a pledge wall.
Chief Executive Officer of The Network and a member of the Council of Consumers International Nadeem Iqbal said businesses had a responsibility to protect public health and the environment rather than treating pollution as an unavoidable consequence of economic activity.
He said the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, developed under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), emphasised the responsibility of businesses to protect consumers’ economic interests, health and safety and the environment.
“The responsibility for clean air cannot rest with government alone. Industries, transport operators, restaurants, manufacturers and other businesses must recognise that their commercial activities have consequences for public health. Responsible business practices are essential to ensuring that economic development does not come at the cost of the air people breathe,” Mr Iqbal said.
Officials from Pak-EPA and EPA Punjab discussed environmental compliance, emission monitoring and the need for businesses to observe applicable environmental standards.
They emphasised that industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust and poorly managed waste contribute to deteriorating air quality and require coordinated action by regulatory authorities and commercial operators.
M. Farooq Chaudhry, president Restaurant association, said restaurants were already installing a special filter system to exhaust clean air.
Javeed Iqbal, president Islamabad transport association, said the government should introduce Euro 5 diesel and petrol to further ensure cleaner air. He said the transport association will support it.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026
