ISLAMABAD – Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslamhas said World Bank (WB) approved a grant of US $280 million forestablishing 10 more air quality monitoring stations in Lahore.
He said that the financial assistance would be provided to the EnvironmentProtection Department (EPD) Punjab for not only new air monitoring stationsrather for the department’s upgradation and resource development.
“The World Bank will finance US$200 million out of the total cost where therest of US$80 million will be given by the provincial government,” AminAslam told APP.
He said when he assumed the charge in the ministry, there was no ambientair quality monitoring at the government level.
“Around five stationary and five mobile out of order air monitoringstations have been made functional to restore air monitoring in Lahore,” headded.
To a question, he said the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency(PAK-EPA) was under staff and same was the condition of the provincial EPAsas they were also lacking human resource.
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“This WB project will help at least to resolve the staff capacity issue atPunjab level whereas the situation in other provinces and at federal isalso under the notice of the ministry of climate change,” he added.
He said the latest study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO) in its recent study claimed 40 per cent share ofvehicular emissions in the deadly Smog phenomenon occurring in Lahore. Thestudy, however, missed to take account of another important factor whichwas dust as the similar level studies carried out Delhi Smog also revealedit as another perpetrator of Smog, he noted.
“In order to curb vehicular emissions, there have been a few car healthmonitoring stations set up in Punjab. These stations are helping thedrivers to maintain the quality performance of their car engine and avoidharmful emissions through proper inspection at the registration of theautomobile. A public-private partnership model is in the pipeline forestablishing proper stations for car assessment during the registrationprocess to ensure strict vigilance,” Amin said.
