By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Lahore has become the number one among the most polluted cities as the quality index of city has reached 245 due to which the citizens started suffering from various diseases.
The Punjab government has started taking measures to reduce the pollution as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif held an emergent meeting and took important decisions to for environmental improvement.
The Cabinet approved amendments in the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 to increase fine for vehicles that emit smoke. It was briefed that a vehicle operating without a Vehicle Fitness Certificate will be fined and impounded after a one-time notice. The Cabinet also approved a historic initiative to eliminate environmental pollution, and to introduce single-use plastic culture in Punjab. It also gave approval to set up District Plastic Management Committees to address enforcement issues. DCs and DPOs will be chairpersons of
District Plastic Management Committees while traders and other relevant authorities will be their members. The District Plastic Management Committees will have the power to impose fines to ensure implementation of plastic elimination campaign. They will also have the power to seal factories manufacturing non-standard and environmentally non-friendly plastic bags besides lowering the registration and renewal fee of a quality and environment-friendly plastic bag manufacturing factory. The Cabinet also gave approval to recruit 310 Environment Inspectors besides approving the purchase of 250 e-bikes and a Standard Uniform for them.
The Cabinet approved the establishment of Punjab Examination, Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) besides approving CM Punjab laptop scheme. Madam Chief Minister directed the authorities concerned to give laptops to students as soon as possible.
The Provincial Cabinet gave approval to Khelta Punjab Games 2024 (Under 16 Talent Hunt Programme). It was briefed that more than one lakh 15 thousand players have been registered for Khelta Punjab Games, and 6,000 youths will be given internship in sports department at Rs 25,000 per month. It was also apprised that private universities will provide 50 young athletes with free education along with sports facilities.
The cabinet approved Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card for Small Farmers, and set a target of producing 2 lakh animals per year, besides extending the scheme to big farmers too. It approved an Act 2024 for the establishment of 3 new authorities in Punjab: Punjab Development Authority, Punjab Water & Sanitation Authority and Punjab Horticulture Authority. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to issue festival card for Hindu and Sikh brothers in Punjab, under which Rs 10,000 will be given to 2200 families on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s birthday and Diwali.
The Cabinet also approved to open technical universities in Punjab besides approving recruitment to Grade 1-15 Vacancies in Wildlife Park Joharabad.
