LAHORE: In an environment-friendly gesture, the Punjab government has ordered a crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles and industrial units to curb smog in the province.
The orders were issued in a meeting presided over by Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab Director General Zaheer Abbas Malik, and attended by all directors and district officers concerned.
EPA DG said smoke-emitting factories would be sealed and such vehicles won’t be allowed to enter the cities, including Lahore.
“Operation of brick kilns without zigzag technology will never be allowed [to function], as the Punjab chief minister has a zero-tolerance policy on smog and it will be implemented in every possible way,” he said.
He ordered all the EPD officers concerned to be active in the field, instead of sitting in their offices.
The DG directed the agriculture and local government departments officers to impose strict penalties for burning crops residue and garbage.
“Drone technology will be used for smog monitoring for the first time in the history of Punjab,” the DG added.
