Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday expressed desire for “climate diplomacy with the India Punjab,”.
Maryam Nawaz said the effects of smog are the same on both sides, so Pakistan and Indian Punjab should launch start similar measures to eliminate it.
The CM also launched the CM Internship Climate Resilient Leadership Program. Maryam Nawaz inaugurated Pakistan’s first smog hotline “1373”. She announced to increase the honorarium of Climate Change Leadership Internship Program from 25 thousand to 60 thousand and directed to plant trees across the road sides during construction and repair of roads. She also directed to introduce the ‘theme of smog’ from October 15 to November 15 in the schools across Punjab.
The CM while addressing the ceremony said, “Climate diplomacy with the India Punjab. The effects of smog are the same on both sides, so Pakistan and Indian Punjab should launch start similar measures to eliminate it. Smog will end not by merely pressing a button, rather by undertaking collective efforts. Everyone should know about the importance of smog elimination. My primary vision in Punjab is youth development. When the interns were informed about giving Rs25,000 honorarium then it was realized that the amount is inadequate. Even 60,000 rupees are inadequate for the internship program. I felt pleased to see the interns coming from different districts of Punjab. I have also directed to ensure jobs security of children after their internship program. The environment leader should get a job in the field of environment so that the children can fully benefit from education and training. The interns should be placed in Environment and Forest Departments.”
The CM said, it is also the responsibility of the institutions to provide job links for jobs in other departments
The Chief Minister said, immediate action is being taken when incidents of animal cruelty come to light in Punjab. In Punjab, a person who cut off the leg of a donkey was apprehended caught and put in jail. One of the hallmarks of a civilized nation is how it treats animals.
She said, smog awareness will be taught as a subject in schools. The implementation of the action plan for sustainable measures to reduce smog has started. An end-to-end action plan has been formulated to eliminate smog and smog will reduce in the coming days. A warning was given for the black smoke coming out of the brick kilns and after the warning it was demolished for committing violation. We don’t want to spoil anyone’s livelihood, but action has to be taken with a heavy heart against those who pollute the environment. Cameras have been installed on chimneys in the industries, whose surveillance is being done in the monitoring room. In case of smoke emission, an immediate call is being made to the industry control room. Monitoring of environment through drone digital inspection, CCTV is also ongoing. The fat melting factories are not only polluting the environment, but people are being poisoned as well.
CM Maryam Nawaz stated, political pollution is not visible but destroys the country. Protest, siege, burning are wrong traditions. Now inflation has reduced to 9% from 38% and has to be done for ensuring it.
