Smog has risen as a serious challenge to Pakistan and genuine businesspersons should not support the elements responsible for environmental pollution, said Secretary of Environment Usman Ali Khan while speaking in a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), according to a press statement received by WealthPK.

LCCI President Kashif Anwar, Vice President Adnan Khalid Butt, Executive Committee Members and former office-bearers also spoke on the occasion.

Usman said the government did not aim to close factories. If this happens somewhere, industrialists should forward the complaints. The smog level in Lahore is high. The role of factories is only 20 to 30% and the major contributors are 6.5 million vehicles in Lahore with 42% share in smog. Brick kilns and dust are also prominent causes of smog, said the secretary of environment.

He urged industrialists not to support the elements that were using carbon, rubber, tyres and other prohibited fuels.

Usman said genuine industrialists are well aware of the environment-related standards and should ensure their implementation.

He said action was being taken against those factories where scrubbers were not installed, while the factories where scrubbers were not working properly just got notices.

He said the Punjab government was going to unroll the Smog Policy 2022 soon, adding that there was a need to introduce a cheap technology for the industries to control pollution. He also emphasized increasing awareness among the general public about the environmental pollution.

Usman said innovation was being promoted to control pollution. For the first time, the department has taken real-time images from the SPARCO, converted them into word format and mailed them to the deputy commissioner responsible for controlling pollution.

“There is no ban on the entry of trolleys, trucks and loaders carrying construction material and other goods in Lahore,” he said. Teams had been deployed at Babu Sabu, Sagian and Thokar Niaz Baig entry points to get fees from the smoke-emitting vehicles and give them seven days for the vehicle fitness certificate, he added.

He said the department was going to arrange a seminar soon to create awareness among the general public about the environmental pollution.

“In the present era, technologies have been introduced that minimally affect the industrial production. The government and environment department should spread awareness and help the industry in getting these technologies,’’ LCCI President Kashif Anwar said.

The LCCI president said the Lahore Chamber was creating awareness among its members about environmental protection through seminars.

Lahore Chamber is an active member of Smog Commission and Green Program and is fulfilling its responsibilities in a winsome manner, he added.

Expressing his concern, Kashif Anwar said the contribution of industry to smog was negligible and the major contributors were smoke-emitting vehicles and the burning of crops, garbage, old tyres, and plastics for heating.

“We support the government’s initiatives to control smog but no industrial unit should be closed at the slightest observation,’’ he said.

The LCCI president said scrubbers had been installed at many factories, but if smoke was released for a short time due to power outages or technical problems, it was unjustified for the inspectors of Environmental Protection Agency to insist on sealing the factory. He said action should be taken against those factories where the smoke control systems had not been installed.

He said through a recently issued circular, all the industrial units had been directed to install scrubbers and cameras for monitoring to prevent the emission of pollution and warned of fines ranging from Rs50,000 to 100,000.

“Such measures, sudden raids and immediate sealing will only promote corruption and create harassment among the business community. The businesses are already facing a tough time. Instead of taking such measures, the Punjab government should take steps to control smog and create awareness about pollution among the business community,” he said.

LCCI Vice President Adnan Khalid Butt said the government should provide financial assistance to the business community on easy instalments at zero mark-up for installation of equipment to control smog.

He said the students of public and private universities should be given projects to control pollution. Industries should be given access to drains and assistance in installing treatment plants so that they do not throw waste underground, he said.

Adnan also stressed the need for proper disposal of hospital waste. He said environment-friendly companies had the ease of doing business globally and suggested that environmental agencies should recommend the government to give 5-10 years tax exemption to the industrial units in compliance with environmental standards.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk