World Environment Day observed

The World Environment Day was observed throughout the country on Thursday like other parts of the globe to stimulate awareness of environmental issues and enhance political attention and action. The WED slogan for 2008 was "kick the habit towards a low carbon economy".
The main international celebrations of WED 2008 were held in Wellington, New Zealand. WED was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.
Conferences and workshops were organised both at the government and private level in major cities including Lahore to highlight the environment related issues and responsibilities of the government organisations and general public to give safer and cleaner environment to the citizens.
In Lahore, the Environment Protection Department and the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) displayed banners and steamers at important roads to highlight the environment issues and responsibilities of the stakeholders towards safer environment. The CDGL Environment Departments also distributed handbills among motorists at different city roads to create awareness about traffic rules environment issues. The Environment Protection Department organised a seminar at a local hotel to mark the WED.
The Institute of Engineering organised a seminar here at a local hotel where leading environmentalists and experts expressed their views on different environment issues.
Also, to mark the World Environment Day 2008, joint teams of the City District Government and traffic police on Thursday challenged 388 vehicles and impounded 13 during operation against smoke emitting vehicles.
The CDG Environment Department constituted eight teams to take action against smoke emitting vehicles across the city. The teams arranged pickets at Garhi Shahu, UET, Kalma Chowk, Canal Bank Road, Liberty Chowk, LOS Stop, Data Darbar and Chauburgi. Special teams imposed a collective fine amounting to Rs 245,750 on 40 busses, 61 wagons, 106 rickshaws, 91 trucks and 30 motorcycle rickshaws for excessive emissions. The impounded vehicles included 3 rickshaws, 6 wagons, 2 busses and 2 trucks.
DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta said that the campaign against polluting vehicles would continue for one month. He said that no one would be allowed to pollute the environment of Lahore.
Environment District Officer Tariq Zaman Khan said he would personally monitor the performance of all eight squads. He urged the transporters to get engines of their vehicles tuned and use quality lubricants to reduce excessive emissions. He also said stringent action would be taken against polluting vehicles.