MULTAN, Aug 29: Punjab Environment Secretary Zaffar Iqbal Sheikh has directed Wasa authorities to install water treatment plants at disposal pumps on an emergency basis.

Presiding over a meeting here on Friday at the DCO office, Sheikh said that polluted water was causing diseases like hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dyspepsia and cancer.

He said that PC-I for the installation of water treatment plant in Lahore had been prepared while efforts were being made to install another plant in Faisalabad.

He said that pollution was the cause of about 85 per cent diseases and the government had enacted a law to prevent pollution.

He directed Wasa authorities to launch an awareness campaign for the prevention of pollution.

PLANTATION: Tree plantation is essential to minimize pollution and meet energy and wood requirements, Bahauddin Zakariya University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Zaffarullah said while inaugurating monsoon tree plantation campaign on the varsity premises on Friday.

Urging the people to participate in the campaign and preserve trees and plants, Dr Zaffarullah said tree plantation campaign would be useful for environment and we should enthusiastically participate in this cause.

He also stressed the need to acknowledge the value of tree plantation in one’s life and said that tree plantation was a charity work that not only added to the beauty of an area but also provided fruits and herbs.

Prof Dr Altaf Ahmed Dasti said that at least 10,000 saplings would be planted during the monsoon tree plantation campaign while 5,000 saplings would be planted in February to make the university more attractive.

Forests District Officer Dr Muhammad Arshad said that tree plantation was necessary to control pollution and his department was giving top propriety to this task.

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