US Consulate General Delegation Visits EPA Lahore, Commends Punjab’s Advanced Environmental Monitoring and Smog Control Measures
A high-level delegation from the U.S. Consulate General visited the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab in Lahore, including its state-of-the-art Environmental Control Room. The delegation was received by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, in the presence of provincial ministers and senior government officials.
During the visit, the delegation was briefed on the EPA’s modern Environmental Control Room, Air Quality Monitoring System, digital environmental surveillance infrastructure, and operational mechanisms. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb provided a comprehensive overview of the Punjab Government’s environmental reforms, smog mitigation strategy, climate change initiatives, and the deployment of advanced technologies to strengthen environmental governance.
The Senior Minister stated that Lahore was ranked as the world’s most polluted city in November 2024. However, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the province has witnessed significant improvements through effective policies, advanced technology, and robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. She emphasized that the Chief Minister has empowered the Environment Department with full administrative authority, adequate resources, and modern technological tools to ensure effective implementation of environmental laws.
Highlighting Punjab’s agricultural interventions to combat smog, she said the use of Super Seeders has been made mandatory to prevent crop residue burning. When the current government assumed office, only 250 Super Seeders were available across Punjab. Today, more than 7,500 Super Seeders are being used by farmers throughout the province. She added that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target of increasing the number to 15,000 by next year. Under the “Maryam Nawaz Smog-Free Punjab Program,” the Government is subsidizing 60 percent of the cost of each Super Seeder.
Marriyum Aurangzeb further noted that over the past two years, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has allocated the largest budget in Punjab’s history for the environment, climate change, forests, and wildlife sectors. This unprecedented investment has enabled these departments to adopt some of the world’s most advanced technologies for environmental management and enforcement.
She also informed the delegation that the Chief Minister is establishing Pakistan’s and the region’s first-ever Climate Change Observatory, which will serve as the central data hub for climate information, environmental monitoring, air quality, heatwaves, wind direction, and climate resilience planning. She emphasized that no previous government in Pakistan has invested or implemented environmental and climate initiatives on such a comprehensive scale.
The delegation was informed that industrial units across Punjab are being monitored around the clock, while all EPA field officers have been equipped with body cameras to ensure transparency and accountability. All brick kilns across Punjab have successfully transitioned to Zig-Zag technology to reduce emissions. In addition, all motorways, shopping malls, and model bazaars in Lahore have been declared plastic-free zones, with plans to gradually extend the initiative to commercial markets across the province.
The briefing further highlighted strict enforcement of dust control measures at construction sites. In cases of non-compliance, a Robo Call System immediately alerts the relevant enforcement officers. Advanced surveillance cameras operated by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority are also being utilized to continuously monitor pollution sources and environmental violations.
The delegation was also informed that the Government of Punjab has introduced a transparent online hearing and licensing system. Live tracking of EPA vehicles and field officers has been implemented, while continuous monitoring of wind direction, heatwaves, and other meteorological parameters supports evidence-based environmental decision-making.
During the visit, the delegation observed Lahore’s live Air Quality Index (AQI) through the Air Quality Management System and expressed keen interest in Punjab’s advanced environmental monitoring capabilities. Officials also demonstrated the Punjab AQI Mobile App, which provides real-time air quality information to citizens, along with the province’s modern vehicle emission testing system designed to effectively monitor vehicular emissions.
The US Consulate General delegation appreciated the Punjab Government’s comprehensive efforts to protect the environment, combat smog, strengthen digital environmental monitoring, promote transparent regulatory systems, and enhance climate resilience, describing these initiatives as exemplary and worthy of emulation.