NEW ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES BY PUNJAB GOVERNMENT By: Uzma Zubair

NEW ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES BY PUNJAB GOVERNMENT

By: Uzma Zubair

        A couple of days back, world leaders had gathered in Paris for a grand conference on Climate change. A torrent of pronouncements and promises had already been issued forth from Pope Francis, XI Jinping, Barack Obama and many others. The IMF warns that human fortunes will evaporate like water under a relentless sun if climate change is not checked soon.

        The promises about Paris are known as “intended nationally determined contributions”, are not only but also diverse hard to compare. In the conference, the delegates agreed about global temperatures that’s should be allowed to rise by more than 2Co (3.6Fo) above pre-industrial levels. Green groups have argued for years that anything more would be widely dangerous.

        The rich countries are more concerned about climate change than the poor ones who have other things to be worried about. Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also attended the Paris International Conference on environment few days back. In Punjab, most of the criticizers think that Environment Department is responsible for all types of pollution in Punjab. But it is not reality because repairing of faulty sewerage is included in the duties of WASA. Similarly, dengue, polio issues are concerned with Health Department. The matter of trees matter is connected with Forest Department, but unfortunately people do not have the perfect knowledge about the fundamental duties of the departments. Hence, they consider the Environment Department is responsible for the real pollution picture based on most facts in front of the society, because government of Punjab has taken lot of effective initiatives to protect the environment. The focus is entirely upon environmental pollution in the light of special instructions of Chief Minister of Punjab to make environment better. Government of Punjab has launched lot of developmental projects in this regard. Recently Provincial Minister for Environment Begum Zakia Nawaz has been appointed to cope with the problems of clean environment and to promote the cleanliness of environment in our society, that will lead us to breath in fresh and clean environment.    Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had paid a visit to Paris to attend the International Conference on Environment. Provincial Minister for Environment Department Punjab Zakia Shah Nawaz had accompanied him.

        Being a Pakistani, there are some duties for us to realize. My question is to public and citizens, are we playing our role to clean our environmental surroundings? Have we repaired our out of order vehicles,  which leave much smoke on roads, even much noise if we cleaning or making our earth polluting? There is need to ask  questions from ourselves. Are we faithfully  our responsibilities at individual and collective levels?

        Islam teaches “cleanliness is half of faith”, this applies upon all circles of our life, being a Pakistani we have some duties to perform in a certain manner. The question is are we true to Islam sayings. The actual duties of Environment Department is to regulate and monitor those other linked departments whose activities or negligence can raise the issue of environmental pollution like health, WASA, LDA and other concerned departments.

        Punjab Environment Department ensures compliance of Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS) waste water and gaseous emissions. This department is monitoring industrial effluents and municipal waste. It also promotes environments’ awareness and ensures sustainable development.

        Environment Department reviews of initial environmental examination / environmental impact assessment. It conducts campaigns against smoky and noisy vehicles as well as it is collaborating with NGOs/CBOs for undertaking environment friendly projects. EPA District officers are actively working in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gurjanwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Kasur.