25 Factories Demolished for Environmental Violations

APP

Lahore: As many as 25 factories have been demolished and 23 other units sealed for violating environmental laws over the past one-and-a-half months. Additionally, violators have been fined Rs 9.2 million.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahu stated that all available resources and measures will be utilized to prevent crop residue burning and enforce environmental laws in the province.

The secretary said that the field formations of the department would play an active role in this campaign as a crackdown on environmental pollution had also been started.

Meanwhile, according to a recent environmental study, toxic emissions generated by crop burning prolong smog is detrimental to health.

Recently, in a statement Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the second phase of an anti-smog campaign would be launched over the next three months. In this phase, the environmental protection laws and regulations would be rigorously enforced in industries, agriculture, traffic and other sectors.

She noted that the first phase, which spanned three months, had focused on providing relevant facilities, technical assistance, equipment and technology across all sectors and formations.

The senior minister has warned that violations of environmental laws will result in penalties, fines and arrests. She also affirmed the commitment to impose a complete ban on plastic, adding Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz personally was personally overseeing its implementation.