Environmental pollution is one of the major health hazards for the people both in the urban and rural areas of the province. Ever increasing environmental pollution due to increased number of vehicles on the roads and other factors is surely a major problem for the people in the cities mainly though no area can be found to be free from this problem.
Growing environmental pollution is gradually making breathing quite difficult and seems to be increasing in unchecked, uncontrolled and unbridled manner in the manner though there are a couple of agencies working for checking this increasing threat to human beings. The problem is becoming chronic obviously due to not so satisfactory performance of the Environment Department and Environment Protection Agency both of which are based in Lahore.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken due notice of this not so good situation and accordingly directed re-organisation of the Environment Department and restructuring of Environment Protection Agency for effectively controlling increasing environmental pollution. The Chief Minister also instructed official quarters concerned to evolve comprehensive strategy for overcoming environmental pollution and maintaining clean healthy atmosphere, Environmental Protection Agency has been given status of autonomous body and made responsible for efficient, effective and forceful implementation of environmental laws which should be duly amended to achieve the desired results in a positive manner.
According to the reports in the newspapers, the Chief Minister did not mince words and expressed his dissatisfaction over poor performance of the Provincial Environment Department and stressed upon its officials to play its role efficiently and properly in accordance with the modern times demands.
Quite obviously, if the Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency are being provided adequate resources out of the public exchequer, these are expected to perform well and take effective measures regularly for controlling environment pollution. The people also have to make their contributions in ensuring a clean atmosphere for themselves and their children. It will be good if regular awareness campaigns are carried out both in the print and electronic media reminding the citizens about their responsibilities in keeping the atmosphere in which they are breathing free from environmental pollution to the maximum extent possible. Strict action should also be taken, if not already being done, against smoke emitting cars, scooters and motor cycles, trucks and other vehicles. Implementation of environment protection laws without any discrimination will also hopefully produce good results in this regard.
Bilal N. Hanif
Islamabad
