How Punjab Is Turning Smog into a Story of Survival

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Belem: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has declared the fight against climate change and smog a “mission, not a slogan,” unveiling a sweeping vision of Punjab’s environmental transformation during her address at the inauguration of the Pakistan Pavilion at COP-30.

Speaking at the global climate summit in Belem, Brazil, Maryam Nawaz said that climate action now lies at the heart of every provincial policy decision. “Combating the hazardous effects of climate change is no longer a choice; it’s our moral and developmental obligation,” she said, highlighting Punjab’s initiatives that place the province at the forefront of climate governance in South Asia.

Budget Boost and Green Revival

The Chief Minister announced a substantial increase in the province’s climate budget—from Rs 94 billion to Rs 123 billion—reflecting Punjab’s prioritization of environmental sustainability. “Punjab’s forests are no longer silent, and its lakes no longer still. The heartbeat of our nature is returning to normalcy,” she remarked.

She shared that Punjab is rapidly transitioning to eco-friendly fuels and waste-to-energy systems under its Clean Air and E-Mobility Vision, while ten major automated rapid transit systems are being developed in key cities. Former landfill sites are being turned into green forests and solar parks, signaling a move from pollution to sustainability.

Clean Water, Sanitation, and Model Villages

Addressing urban and rural challenges, Maryam Nawaz said District Water and Sanitation Authorities have been established in 41 districts, and water and sanitation projects launched in 66 cities. Moreover, 2,500 model villages are being built to ensure every household has access to clean drinking water and sanitation.

Tackling Plastic and Protecting Wildlife

Under Punjab’s Plastic Management Cell, over 2.5 million citizens have pledged to reduce plastic usage. The Punjab Wildlife and Biodiversity Program, she noted, has rescued 35,000 birds and 700 animals, including 23 bears freed from captivity.

The province is constructing South Asia’s largest wildlife hospital, alongside three wildlife rescue centers and a helpline (1107). Special environmental courts under the Punjab Wildlife Act and Protected Areas Act are now enforcing penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 million fines for wildlife crimes.

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“The survival of humanity is linked with the survival of rivers, air, and sky,” the CM said, drawing a poetic parallel between the Amazon and the Indus River, calling both symbols of nature’s inseparable bond with humanity.

Learning from the 2025 Floods

Referring to the devastating 2025 floods, Maryam Nawaz reminded delegates that 27 districts were submerged, affecting five million people and 2.4 million acres of crops. The government relocated 2.6 million citizens and 2.1 million animals in what she termed “the largest rescue operation in Punjab’s history.”

She said the experience transformed Punjab’s approach, leading to the Punjab Climate Resilient 2025 Initiative, which integrates data governance and citizen support to strengthen disaster preparedness and institutional coordination.

AI-Powered Climate Monitoring

Punjab is now pioneering AI-driven climate management, connecting 100 air quality stations to a centralized Smog War Room. The province is also establishing South Asia’s first real-time Climate Observatory in Lahore, which will connect with global satellite networks for accurate forecasting.

Over 8,500 Safe City cameras and thermal sensors are monitoring pollution-prone areas, while every brick kiln and industrial unit is geo-tagged and QR-coded. Collaboration with SUPARCO and NASA has reduced crop residue burning by 65 percent, she said.

Green Revolution in Agriculture

Under the Climate-Smart Farming Program, Punjab has distributed 5,000 super seeders, 15 balers, and mechanized harvesters, along with Rs 80 billion in interest-free loans to farmers. “In a short time, our actions have not only cleared the skies but also built a new social contract between farmers, government, and science,” she stated.

From hand-ploughed fields to AI-enabled agriculture, the province’s farmlands are witnessing a new era of e-mechanization. Advanced silage machinery, dryers, sprayers, and pivot irrigation systems are helping farmers improve efficiency and sustainability.

E-Mobility Vision

Maryam Nawaz announced the creation of a Rs 12.5 billion Climate Endowment Fund to finance long-term sustainability projects, stressing that “resource allocation is critical for tangible climate action.”

Under Punjab’s Clean Air and E-Mobility Vision 2030, the province is electrifying its entire transport network—the first such initiative in South Asia. The CM revealed that 1,500 electric buses, 120,000 e-bikes and e-rickshaws, and 1,100 electric taxis will soon operate across 42 cities, supported by solar charging and digital fare systems.

“We are giving youth and workers affordable, zero-emission alternatives that create jobs while safeguarding the planet,” she said.

From Waste to Wealth

Addressing waste management, she said Punjab produces over 50,000 tons of waste daily, half of which once went uncollected. “Now every city, street, and home is linked to the Suthra Punjab Network, a model of clean governance,” she added.

Public-private partnerships have generated 150,000 green jobs and locally manufactured sanitation vehicles. The Lakhodair Carbon Market Pilot Project is now converting methane into green energy, with plans for waste-to-fuel, biogas, and recycling parks in the next phase.

Rewilding Punjab’s Ecosystems

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted breakthroughs in wildlife monitoring using AI drone surveys that map habitats across the province. The Black Buck Drone Sensor is setting “a global benchmark in conservation science.” With support from IUCN, the province is developing live digital biodiversity maps and promoting ecotourism revival through Rs 8.7 billion projects.

A 600-officer Wildlife Force now enforces conservation laws, while new biodiversity parks and zoological reserves are bringing citizens closer to nature.

Global Call for Climate Solidarity

Extending an invitation to global partners through the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and Special Investment Facilitation Council, the CM urged the world to unite for a greener future.

“Our world may be divided by geography, but the air is shared,” she said. “Saving the planet is not charity—it is humanity’s survival.”

Calling for a union of ‘green hearts’ from the Amazon to Punjab, she appealed for a global alliance that transcends geography and politics: “Let us turn every piece of waste into energy, teach every child to protect the environment, and plant trees in every forgotten village.”

Maryam Nawaz concluded with a powerful call for justice and cooperation between the Global North and South:

“The time has come to re-balance the equation. The North must lead responsibly, and the South must contribute with innovation and resolve. Together, we can transform historical injustice into shared purpose—and shared purpose into the survival of our planet.”