US Consulate delegation visits EPA

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jul, 2026) A delegation from the United States Consulate General visited the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters to review the provincial government’s environmental protection measures, air quality monitoring system and climate resilience initiatives, here on Saturday.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb received the delegation in the presence of provincial ministers and senior officials.

During the visit, the delegation toured the EPA Control Room, where officials demonstrated the province’s environmental monitoring system and Air Quality Management System (AQMS). The delegation also reviewed Lahore’s live Air Quality Index (AQI) through the digital monitoring platform.

Giving a comprehensive briefing, Marriyum Aurangzeb said Lahore had been ranked as the world’s most polluted city in November 2024, but the situation had improved considerably due to the Punjab government’s comprehensive anti-smog strategy and institutional reforms. She said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had empowered the EPA by providing greater administrative authority, enhanced financial resources and modern technological tools to improve environmental governance.

The senior minister said preventing the burning of crop residues remained a key component of Punjab’s anti-smog policy, adding that the use of super seeders had become essential for sustainable agricultural practices. She said only 250 super seeders were available across Punjab when the present government assumed office, whereas around 7,500 machines are currently being used by farmers. She added that the chief minister had set a target of increasing the number to more than 15,000 by next year, with the government bearing 60 percent of the cost under the “Maryam Nawaz Smog-Free Punjab” programme.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Punjab government had allocated unprecedented funding for climate change, environmental protection, forestry and wildlife during the past two years, enabling the departments to adopt advanced technologies comparable with international standards.

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She informed the delegation that Punjab is establishing Pakistan’s first and the region’s first Climate Change Observatory, which will serve as a central data hub for monitoring climate trends, environmental changes and weather patterns while supporting evidence-based policymaking for a climate-resilient Punjab.

During the briefing, officials informed the delegation that industrial units across Punjab are under round-the-clock environmental surveillance, while all EPA field officers have been equipped with body-worn cameras to improve transparency and accountability during inspections. They said all brick kilns in Punjab had been converted to zigzag technology to reduce emissions.

The delegation was further informed that all motorways, shopping malls and model bazaars in Lahore had been declared plastic-free zones, while the initiative would gradually be extended to commercial markets throughout the province.

Officials said strict enforcement was underway to control dust emissions from construction sites, while an automated robocall system immediately alerts enforcement officers to environmental violations. Pollution-generating activities are also being monitored through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.

The delegation was briefed that the provincial government has introduced an online hearing and licensing system to ensure transparency, while the live location of EPA vehicles and field officers is continuously monitored. Wind direction, heatwave conditions and other meteorological indicators are also being tracked to strengthen environmental planning and pollution management.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said vehicle emissions are being monitored through a dedicated emission testing system, while the Punjab AQI mobile application provides citizens with real-time air quality information to promote public awareness and timely precautionary measures. She said the provincial government would continue investing in technology-based environmental governance to ensure cleaner air and a healthier environment across Punjab.