Earth Day’s call to break free from plastic

LAHORE:Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab,in a bid to create awareness among the masses about the importance of taking care of our planet, organised a seminar jointly with College of Earth &Environmental Science Punjab University on the eve of‘Earth Day’ here on Monday.

All district officer environment will also ensure the proper plastic waste handling in the industries and strict action will be taken against the industries violate the plastic waste handling rules and regulations.

As per Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz vision, this year EPA Punjab has observed Earth Day in all districts of Punjab and seminars and awareness sessions were organised in all educational institutes, Industrial Estate Offices and District Environment offices in all over Punjab.Director General EPA Punjab Imran Hamid Sheikh started the Earth Day from assembly session of Pilot Public School Wahdat Road Lahore and he also constituted the first ever students environment council in Pilot School.

Talking to students, EPA DGsaid that student’s skill and commitment is key part of fight against environmental issues as if they start from this age and learn their responsibility then they can also guide/convince their elders.

Students also planted a tree and signed the Environment Council and committed to take care of the plant and their school and home surrounding regarding any kind of solid waste especially the plastic waste. Similarly, EPA head office staff visited various schools in Lahore and other districts of Punjab and signed environmental councils among students.

Later on, EPA DG while talking to seminar participants at Punjab university he said that along with developing organizational and leadership skills in the students, these activities truly embraced the spirit of Earth Day that revolves around enlightening the youth on the importance of saving the planet. He said that environmental students are precious asset and EPA Punjab will offer them internships in a true professional spirit and get benefits from their ideas and in return appreciation certificate will be issued to such students.

After the seminar, a walk was also organised at Punjab university along with students and head of CEES Sajid Rasheed and EPA DG later on also distributed cloth bags and woven bags among students.

Imran Hamid Sheikh also visited Liberty Market Lahore and distributed cloth bags among shopkeepers and asked them to avoid using polythene bags. Same practice was also done in all districts of Punjab by EPA Punjab staff. From polythene bags to solid plastic waste, each entity will be dealt as per the law and strict action besides heavy fine will be imposed against the polythene bags usage, EPA DG added.

Special methods will be encouraged with public private partnerships for plastic recycling process and NGOs and industrial stake holders will also be engaged in this regard, Imran Hamid added.

Meanwhile, LDA DG Tahir Farooq planted a sapling in LDA office Johar Town on the occasion of World Earth Day. Tahir Farooq said that the purpose of celebrating World Earth Day was to spread awareness about environmental protection.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, LDA is taking regular measures to ensure environmental protection in the city. Different initiatives are being taken to promote tree planting, anti-smog measures and cycling in the city.

Additional DG UP Khalid Goraya, Director DG Headquarters Asif Hussain, Director Admin RabiaRiasat, Director Environment LDA FarkhanaMumtaz, Director Building and related officers were present on this occasion.