Environmental Protection Order: Green Lockdown in High-Risk Lahore Areas – Notification

Dated: 29.10.2024

ORDER TO IMPOSE GREEN LOCK DOWN IN AIR POLLUTION HOTSPOTS OF LAHORE U/S 6(1) (t) OF THE PUNJAB ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT,1997 

ORDER

WHEREAS, Government of Punjab is striving hard to control all possible intrinsic factors which cause air pollution and deteriorate quality of ambient air. Pre-emptive measures against all the sources of air pollution have already been started by EPA as well as other concerned departments;

2.                     AND WHEREAS, as per Section 2(xxxiii) of The Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997, pollution means the contamination of air, land or water by the discharge or emission of effluents or wastes or air pollutants or noise or other matter which either directly or indirectly or in combination with other discharges or substances alters unfavorably the chemical, physical, biological, radiation, thermal or radiological or aesthetic properties of the air, land or water or which may, or is likely to make the air, land or water unclean, noxious or impure or injurious, disagreeable or detrimental to the health, safety, welfare or property of persons or harmful to biodiversity;

3.                     AND WHEREAS, Section 6(1) (t) of the ibid Act empowers EPA to take or cause to be taken all necessary measures for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, prevention and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development;

4.                     AND WHEREAS, after thorough analysis of the current wave of deterioration of air quality in Lahore, the following areas have been identified as air pollution hotspots:

i.          Surrounding areas of Davis Road, Egerton Road, Durand Road, and Kashmir Road.

ii.       Surrounding areas of Abbott Road, starting from Sbimla Hill to Gulistan Cinema.

iii.        Surrounding areas of Empress Road, starting from Shimla Hill to Railway Headquarters.

iv.        Surrounding areas of Queen Many Road, starting from Durand Road to Allama Iqbal Road.

5.                NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh (PAS), Director General, Environmental Protection Agency, Punjab in exercise of the powers conferred upon me u/s 6(1) (t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, do hereby order that the following restrictions to be imposed in the areas identified as air pollution hotspots (mentioned Li pare 4/ ante):

1. There shall be complete ban on construction activities in the above mentioned areas;
2. There shall be complete ban on entrance of “Ching-chi rikshaws” in the above mentioned areas;
3. There shall be complete ban on operation of commercial generators in the above mentioned areas, which are in violation of the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards;
4. There shall be complete ban on the open food cooking points / Bar B Q points in the above mentioned areas after 08:00 p.m.;
5. There shall be a complete has on food outlets, using charcoal, coal or wood without installation of proper emission control system, in the above mentioned are.
6. There shall be complete has on the operation of Marquees/ Marriage Halls after 10:00 p.m. in the above mentioned areas;
7. There shall be a complete has on dry sweeping in the above mentioned areas. Only wet sweeping shall be done by LWMC;
8. The Government as well as private offices, operating in the above mentioned areas, shall make necessary arrangements to switch over to work from home policy (50% on rotation/ need basis) w.e.f. 04.11.2024 (Monday);
9. Car parking in the above mentioned areas shall be restricted as per guidelines issued from Chief Traffic Officer, Lahore;
10. All the HTV (heavy transport vehicles) entering in the above mentioned areas shall be checked by a special team and no vehicle emitting black smoke above PEQS be allowed to enter thereon;
11. 100% encroachment in the area shall be removed to ensure smooth traffic flow.

DIRECTOR GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, PUNJAB

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