LAHORE, Aug 23 (APP):In line with measures to control smog, Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal on Tuesday

directed the department concerned to take action against those causing environmental pollution.

The Chief Secretary issued the direction during a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.

The additional chief secretary (home), administrative secretaries of various departments

including environment, industries, agriculture, local government, and officials concerned

participated in the meeting.

The Chief Secretary asked the secretaries of the departments concerned to take strict

action against those causing air and environmental pollution –  industrial, and vehicular

emissions,  burning crop stubble, and garbage. He said that to mitigate the factors behind

smog, there was a need to adopt preventive measures and enhance awareness.

He directed that the ban on the use of substandard fuel in steel mills and factories be

strictly enforced. He said that all the provincial departments should work in tandem on

the issue of smog, adding that progress in this regard would be reviewed regularly.

The Chief Secretary also issued instructions regarding the formation of special squads

to check industrial units and brick kilns.

The secretary environment protection department gave a detailed briefing at the meeting.

He said that an action plan had been prepared to control smog. According to a study,

43 percent of contributors to air pollution were from the transport sector, 25 percent from

industry, 12 percent from power and 20 percent were from agriculture sector.

This year, more than 4000 industrial units were inspected, 79 cases were registered,

19 people were arrested and 88 units were sealed, he said.

Similarly, 11,000 brick kilns were inspected, 736 cases were registered and 19 people

were arrested. The authorities also took action against 29,200 smoke-emitting vehicles,

lodging 7,000 FIRs and impounding 17,600 vehicles, he added.