Smoke-emitting factories, mills: 'legal action to be taken against violating owners'

Punjab Minister for Environment Protection & Population Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has said that legal action will be taken against the owners of factories, kilns and mills emitting smoke as the smoke together with the fog causes traffic accidents.
"Action will be taken against the owners of big factories violating these directions," said Begum Zakia Shahnawaz while constituting a committee on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab comprising senior officers of Environment Department and environment experts for taking long term measures regarding ensuring visibility during fog.
The committee comprises Secretary Environment Iqbal Muhammad Chohan, Director General Muhammad Javed Iqbal, General Manager SUPARCO Dr Arifa, Environment Expert Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Director Naseem-ur-Rehman and Additional DG LDA Amina Munir.
The Provincial Minister said it is the mission and vision of Shehbaz Sharif that long term measures should be taken for protection from environment pollution. She said that disciplinary action will have to be taken against violators. Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that the experts should check the samples of fog in the labs of Environment Department and carry out immediate and continuous work and submit a report in this regard.
She said that a comprehensive strategy should be evolved for protection from environment pollution and ensuring visibility during fog. Secretary Environment Iqbal Muhammad Chohan said that long term measures will be taken after completing sampling process in a week. He said that data of industries is being compiled. Moreover, the quality of fuel being used in the vehicles is being compared with India, Europe and other countries. He said that tree plantation is being monitored regularly for making environment pollution free. Deputy Director Nusrat Naz gave a briefing about fog and smoke. The environment experts gave their suggestion with regard to visibility in fog and elimination of environment pollution.