LAHORE, Nov 10: Regulations concerning waste disposal systems are being flouted far too often in new industrial, commercial and housing schemes, according to Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Taskforce on the Environment Dr Owais Farooqui.

Speaking to Dawn, Farooqui said as a matter of public health, both the solid and liquid waste systems would need to be adequately planned and he would be recommending to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to make such action mandatory as well as punishing violators.

“We are seeing today unprecedented levels of malaria and dengue fever, partly as a result of allowing our liquid waste to seep through to the sub-soil and polluting our immediate environment,” he said.

Dr Farooqui stated the Environment Protection Department (EPD) would need to act in a supervisory role over environment district officers in order to implement the deep changes needed.

TOLLINTON MARKET: Union workers are disrupting the working of City District Government Lahore (CGDL) workers at Tollinton Market, said Dr Farooqui, in response to an article in this newspaper last week concerning lack of sanitary practice at the poultry farm. He said it was imperative for the CDGL workers to complete waste enclosures as soon as possible and the public could force action by boycotting the market until it cleaned up its act. — Staff Reporter