LAHORE: The World Environment Day was marked across Punjab on Friday with a series of awareness walks, tree plantation drives and seminars to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
In a special message on the World Environment Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz appealed to the public to plant more trees and safeguard natural resources for environmental protection and the elimination of plastic pollution.
The chief minister expressed gratitude over the significant reduction in fog levels and improvement in environmental conditions witnessed over the past year.
She commended Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb and her team for achieving notable environmental improvements in Lahore and other parts of the province.
She directed the authorities to continue legal action against substandard plastic bags and instructed officials to expedite completion of Punjab’s first Environment Observatory Project.
“The Earth is a beautiful planet, and it is our collective responsibility to take every possible step for its protection and survival,” the chief minister said.
She noted that effective measures aimed at reducing environmental pollution and combating smog were yielding encouraging results.
She announced that Punjab had become the first province in the region to acquire the capability of issuing early alerts regarding environmental pollution, with air pollution indicators being monitored through a state-of-the-art air quality forecast system. She said that Punjab’s first environment wall was now operating round the clock, providing a 24/7 monitoring mechanism for environmental agencies.
Legal action continues against environmental violations, including smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns, and burning of crop residues, she said, adding that 30 modern fog guns were being utilised to combat smog, with more being procured for Lahore and other cities. “Tree plantation campaigns are continuing across the province under the Green Punjab and Plant for Pakistan vision,” she added. She urged citizens to abandon the use of plastic and pledge their commitment to protecting the environment.
The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore organised an awareness walk and plantation drive, led by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Munir. A number of students, faculty and administrative staff participated in the walk.
Addressing the participants, Prof Munir said educational institutions bore the core responsibility of cultivating environmental awareness among the youth. He stressed that tree plantation, energy conservation, and pollution reduction were urgent national priorities.
“UET Lahore has been transformed into a Green Campus,” the vice chancellor said, adding that approximately 50,000 saplings had been planted over the past year. During the walk, students also conducted a cleanliness drive, collecting plastic bottles and waste from the campus.
Separately, the Suthra Punjab Authority (SPA) organised awareness walks in Lahore and other cities to promote environmentally-responsible lifestyles. Under the direction of SPA Director General Babar Sahib Din, social mobiliser teams regularly conduct environmental awareness programmes and tree plantation campaigns in educational institutions throughout the year.
“The authority remains fully committed to maintaining a clean, green, and sustainable Punjab through education, public awareness, and an effective modern waste management system,” Babar Sahib Din said.
In Multan, a seminar, awareness rally, and tree plantation campaign were organised at the Raza Hall, presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance) Mohsin Nisar. District Environment Officer Dr Tahir Siyal, former MNA Sheikh Tariq Rasheed, district officials, civil society representatives, and a large number of citizens attended.
Meanwhile in Khanewal, Environment Deputy Director Engineer Sarfraz Anjum led a tree planting and an awareness walk at Jadeed Feeds.
He said that by enforcing environmental protection laws and maximising tree plantation, the dangers arising from climate change could be tackled.
Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026