‘Punjab environment improves with government focus, joint efforts’
2026-02-03 - 15:26
Secretary Environment, Silwat Saeed, has said that environmental conditions in Punjab this year are much better than in the past several years. Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday, she said that strong political commitment, clear policy direction, and continuous, well-coordinated efforts helped improve the environment. Silwat Saeed said that this is not the achievement of any single institution, but the outcome of collective efforts by the government, industry, agriculture, transport sectors, and all other stakeholders. She said that the new building of the EPA has been activated as the Punjab Climate Watch Hub, where air quality, industrial, transport emissions, agricultural activities, and other environmental indicators are being monitored through advanced digital and AI-based systems. She said that a multi-sector approach was adopted this year to deal with smog, bringing together industry, transport, agriculture, and urban planning. In the agricultural sector, farmers were provided with more than 60 per cent subsidy on super seeder machines, which helped reduce the burning of crop residues. Secretary Environment said that the Environment Protection Force has been organised on professional lines for the first time, and the entire enforcement system has been digitised to reduce human intervention and ensure transparency. She said that the industry is being treated as a partner rather than being punished. She stated that the Punjab government is working on policy frameworks for carbon credits, emissions trading systems, and the promotion of green energy to make Punjab environmentally safe and economically stable. LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol said that instead of controlling pollution through sudden shutdowns, it is more effective to facilitate industries and guide them towards environmentally friendly technologies. He said the biggest challenge faced by industries is the lack of financing, which is slowing down environmental improvement measures. He urged the government to provide zero or low-markup financing so that industries can install modern machinery and emission control systems. Senior Vice President LCCI Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh said that the lack of charging infrastructure is a serious challenge for promoting electric vehicles. He suggested setting up charging stations in Lahore and other major cities to build confidence among the industry and the public. SAARC Chamber Vice President Mian Anjum Nisar said that Pakistan must align with the international community by adopting environmental reforms, green technologies, and global standards to remain competitive. SMEDA’s global certification initiative gets overwhelming response