Summary US Consulate delegation reviews Punjab's environmental monitoring systems as Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb highlights anti-smog and climate initiatives.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – A delegation from the US Consulate in Lahore visited the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb briefed officials on the provincial government's measures to combat smog, improve air quality and strengthen environmental monitoring.
Maryam Aurangzeb welcomed the delegation at the EPA headquarters. Provincial ministers were also present as the visitors toured the EPA control room and reviewed the agency's air pollution monitoring system, air quality management platform and live Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring facilities.
During the briefing, Aurangzeb said Lahore was the world's most polluted city in November 2024, but effective measures taken under the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had significantly improved air quality. She said the government had strengthened the EPA by providing greater authority, resources and modern technology.
She said the use of Super Seeder machines had been made mandatory to curb crop residue burning. According to the minister, Punjab had only 250 Super Seeders when the current government assumed office, but the number has now increased to 7,500. She added that the government aims to provide 15,000 machines to farmers by next year, with 60% of the cost being subsidized under the Smog-Free Punjab programme.
The senior minister said the Punjab government had allocated a record budget over the past two years for environmental protection, forestry and wildlife. She also announced that Pakistan's and the region's first Climate Change Observatory was being established to serve as a central hub for climate and environmental data.
Officials informed the delegation that industrial units across Punjab are being monitored around the clock, while all EPA field officers have been equipped with body cameras. They added that all brick kilns in the province have shifted to zigzag technology, while motorways, shopping malls and model bazaars in Lahore have been declared plastic-free zones, with plans to gradually expand the initiative to commercial markets across Punjab.
The delegation was also briefed on measures to control dust emissions at construction sites, including a robo-call alert system that immediately notifies relevant officials of violations. Authorities said the Punjab Safe Cities Authority is assisting in monitoring pollution sources through surveillance technology.
The visiting delegation also expressed interest in the Punjab AQI mobile application, emissions testing system, online licensing platform, live location monitoring, and wind direction and heatwave monitoring technologies.
