On Friday, the Punjab Assembly continued its third day of discussions focused on the pressing issues of smog and water scarcity in the province. During the debate, members from both the treasury and the opposition called for restrictions on emissions from industries and vehicles, as well as the strict enforcement of existing laws to combat environmental pollution.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan assured the assembly that the recommendations put forth by the members would be communicated to relevant departments, including agriculture and irrigation. PMLN member Uzma Kardar criticized the extended delay in implementing the vehicle fitness program in Punjab, emphasizing that although laws were in place, they were not being enforced effectively. She proposed integrating the smog issue into school curricula to raise awareness among students.
PTI MPA Rana Aftab claimed that officials from the environment department were accepting bribes from factories responsible for pollution, hindering necessary actions against them. He expressed concern over the contamination of groundwater and the use of polluted water for irrigating vegetables, which poses health risks to the public.
Rana Munawwar Ghaus from PMLN advocated for the responsible use of canal water and the promotion of kitchen gardening. He lamented that if the relevant departments had been functioning effectively to manage emissions, the need to demolish kilns could have been avoided.
PTI’s Mushtaq Ahmed called for enhancing the province’s water storage capacity through the construction of small and medium dams and suggested forming a committee to address water scarcity issues. Zakia Shahnawaz from the treasury proposed distributing super seeders in all tehsils to help manage crop residue burning.
Dr. Faisal Jameel, an opposition member, highlighted the importance of tree planting along motorways and suggested prioritizing rail transport to reduce vehicular pollution. He also stressed the need to conserve rainwater to improve both the quality and quantity of groundwater.
Amjad Ali Javed expressed disappointment over the previous government’s impact on Lahore’s public transport system, which he argued led to an increase in air and noise pollution due to the proliferation of motorcycle-rickshaws. Hassan Buttar emphasized the need to promote tree species with large leaves, like pipal, to enhance air filtration and encouraged rooftop gardening to boost green cover in urban areas.
Additionally, Rana Saleem from the treasury recommended crop zoning based on water availability and banning water-intensive crops in regions facing shortages. He also opposed using drinking water for fish farming and suggested introducing corn flour on a bi-weekly basis to alleviate wheat shortages. PTI’s Ahsan Raza raised concerns about ongoing tire burning by industries in Daroghawala and proposed adopting electric vehicles to mitigate pollution in Punjab’s capital, along with the idea of rainwater harvesting at every building, residential or commercial.
