ISLAMABAD: Punjab Government has imposed a ban on the burning of agriculture residues, municipal solid waste, plastic, polythene bags, rubber and leather items.
According to a notification issued by the provincial government, the ban was imposed on the request of Environment Protection Department.
The ban shall remain in force in the province for a period of three months, and will go into effect from October 18 to December 16, 2017.
In the absence of compatible machines, high labour wages and planting of next crop at the earliest, the burning of agriculture residues is being carried out by the farmers looking to dispose of the product for which they have no use. In terms of its impact, such activities are not appreciable by virtue of their multiple negative effects.
It said that the burning practices have been observed in paddy areas for preparation of the seedbed for the next crop, which creates smog in the atmosphere.
It has been further reported that Punjab suffered from the worst kind of smog during the last winter which caused poor visibility, which affected daily life and various health issues of all citizens of the province.