SHEIKHUPURA, Jan 17: Punjab Environment Minister Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad has said that the only way to protect future generations is to wage a war against pollution.

The minister expressed these views here on Saturday at the District Government Complex while detoured on way to Nankana to condole with PML-Q MPA Malik Zulqernain Dogar the death of his brother who was killed by robbers.

The minister said in the past environment was neglected. But the present government was fully aware of its importance and formed a separate ministry.

He urged industrialists to install proper treatment plants at their units as that was the only way to control pollution. Moreover, it was necessary for the manufacturers to install treatment plants and those failed to do so would not be able to sell their goods after WTO implementation.

He said the provincial government has decided to take concrete steps to control pollution. It would install treatment plants in phases - in the first six and then 10 - in the province.

The minister asked the district Nazim to allocate government land for treatment of solid waste.

Nazim Tawakkalullah Virk said on the occasion that there was a dire need to make district government self reliant as far as a collection of revenue was concerned from the industrial units of their respective districts.