ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting focused on smog mitigation and environmental protection in Islamabad was held at the CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
The meeting was attended by environmental and forestry expert Rizwan Mehboob, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, and other senior officers. The Chief Conservator of the Sindh Forest Department and his team also joined via Zoom.
During the meeting, key measures were finalized to curb smog, reduce air pollution, and strengthen environmental protection efforts in the federal capital.
Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized that, following the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, combating smog and safeguarding the environment are top priorities for the Islamabad administration. He called for the implementation of a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to control smog in line with approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Officials briefed the meeting on ongoing initiatives to control emissions from vehicles, brick kilns, industries, and other pollution sources. The Chairman directed that vehicle emission testing be made mandatory across Islamabad, with certification from approved laboratories to ensure compliance.
He further instructed that brick kilns failing to adopt modern, eco-friendly technology be demolished as per environmental laws. The Chairman announced a complete ban on open burning of waste, ordering strict legal action against violators.
To tackle dust pollution from construction activities, water sprinkling at development sites was made compulsory. He also emphasized full compliance with Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) guidelines across all public and private projects in the city.
Chairman Randhawa reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring a clean, green, and sustainable Islamabad through strict enforcement and continuous public awareness campaigns.
