Business Recorder
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appealed to the public to plant more trees and safeguard natural resources, reaffirming the provincial government’s strong commitment to environmental protection and the elimination of plastic pollution on the occasion of ‘World Environment Day.’ In her special message, the chief minister expressed gratitude over the significant reduction in fog levels and the improvement in environmental conditions witnessed during the past year. She also commended Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb and her entire team for achieving notable environmental improvements in Lahore and other parts of the province. Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to continue legal action against the use of substandard plastic bags and instructed officials to expedite the completion of Punjab’s first-ever Environment Observatory Project. “The Earth is a beautiful planet, and it is our collective responsibility to take every possible step for its protection and survival,” the chief minister said. She noted that effective and sustainable measures aimed at reducing environmental pollution and combating smog were yielding encouraging results. The chief minister stated that Punjab had become the first province in the region to acquire the capability of issuing early alerts regarding environmental pollution. She said that air pollution indicators were being monitored across the province through a state-of-the-art Air Quality Forecast System. She further highlighted that Punjab’s first Environment Wall was operating round the clock, providing a 24/7 monitoring mechanism for environmental agencies and institutions. Maryam Nawaz said that legal action was continuing against environmental violations, including smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns and the burning of crop residues. She added that 30 modern fog guns were being effectively utilized to combat smog, while additional fog guns were being procured for Lahore and other cities. The chief minister said that tree plantation campaigns were continuing across the province as part of sustainable environmental protection efforts. Under the government’s Green Punjab and Plant for Pakistan vision, extensive plantation drives were being carried out throughout Punjab, she added. Emphasising the importance of environmental stewardship, Maryam Nawaz added that religion and moral values also taught the principles of cleanliness and environmental conservation. She stressed that effective measures to improve the environment were indispensable for the survival and well-being of future generations. She called for a collective commitment to the protection of water resources and environmental assets, urging citizens to raise awareness about nature conservation, pollution control and climate change mitigation on World Environment Day. Concluding her message, the chief minister appealed to the public to abandon the use of plastic and pledge their commitment to protecting the environment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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