[:en]BY ASIM SHEHZAD
LAHORE: The ‘Punjab Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2024’ has been finalized.
The meeting under the chairmanship of Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb decided to submit the Environmental Protection Policy and Action Plan to the cabinet for approvel.
Punjab Secretary Environment and Climate Change Raja Jahangir Anwar presented the proposed draft in the meeting and gave a detailed briefing.
Punjab Climate Change Policy and Action Plan will also be sent to all stakeholders.
In the meeting, it was also decided to speed up the Plant for Pakistan campaign, to make green investments in the affected sectors, to include climate change education in the education curriculum.
Proposal to store rain water and use it in government buildings, consider starting experimental program in different districts.
Establishment of water quality monitoring system to analyze water quality, also proposal to introduce laws to control underground water.
Proposal to introduce modern methods in irrigation to save water, also agreed to build small dams in Pothohar and Rohi areas.
In the meeting, the proposal to start a special management plan to save South Punjab from famine was also reviewed in detail.
Also proposed to provide eco-friendly interest-free loans to small businesses.
Climate change is increasing the temperature and intensity of heat, about 95 thousand kilotons of greenhouse gases and 7 thousand 17 kilotons of harmful gases are being emitted in Punjab every year.
Lahore, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, DG Khan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Multan are decleared high temperature hotspots.
Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb says that the vision of Chief Minister Punjab is the mission of saving the lives of humans and animals.
Secretary Environment and Climate Change Raja Jahangiranur, CEO Urban Unit Umar Masood, environmentalists and other officials were present in the meeting.[:]