Pollution disastrous for a healthy society: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi said on Friday that environmental pollution was disastrous for a healthy society which not only caused spread of various diseases but also left a negative impact on human lives. He said besides the government, it was also the responsibility of the citizens to keep the environment clean. The chief minister stressed the need for launching a public awareness campaign about keeping the environment clean.

He said more steps should be taken for keeping the environment clean insides and surroundings of factories and industrial organisations so that not only citizens, but the environment could also be kept clean.

While presiding over a high-level meeting at chief minister’s secretariat today, Najam Sethi said there was a dire need of taking effective and coordinated steps for keeping the environment clean. He said that the concerned departments should play an active role in this regard so that citizens could live in a pollution free environment. The chief minister directed concerned authorities to take action against all those spreading environmental pollution as per law and all necessary measures should be taken for eradicating environmental pollution. He said besides eradicating environmental pollution, there was a need of improving cleanliness arrangements according to modern standards. He said         although solid waste management was working in an efficient manner in Lahore the situation of cleanliness arrangements in other cities was not satisfactory. Najam Sethi stressed the need for further improving the system of solid waste management and adopting modern methods of cleanliness. He said that there was a need of creating awareness among the masses about keeping cities clean. He said that there should be uniform and quality arrangements of cleanliness in all areas and the garbage should be disposed of properly covered.

Lahore Waste Management Company Managing Director informed the meeting that a modern system of cleanliness had been introduced in 138 urban union councils where roads were washed with water during night time whereas the staff of Lahore Waste Management Company was still discharging the responsibility of cleanliness in 12 rural union councils. He said that the work on a landfill site on a 140 acre land at Lakhudair was in progress. He disclosed that this was the first modern landfill site of Punjab which would help in disposing of garbage through modern methods. He said Mahmood Booti, where garbage was thrown earlier, is being converted into a park. Environment Protection Secretary gave a briefing about the problems being caused due to environmental pollution and their eradication.

A detailed briefing was also given to the meeting about Solid Waste Management. Environment Protection and Industries Minister Arif Ijaz, principal secretary to chief minister, secretary environment protection, secretary local government, secretary industries, DCO Lahore, managing director Lahore waste management company, project director urban unit and other concerned officials attended the meeting.