Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of government buildings
LAHORE – The World Bank would provide a soft loan of $200 million to the government of Punjab for the green development project. This was revealed during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi on Monday to discuss measures to tackle environmental pollution. The meeting discussed a proposal to make the token tax for private vehicles subject to motor vehicle inspection and certification. It was decided that the inspection of equipment that causes environmental pollution would be included in the VICS motor vehicle certification and that soft loans would be provided to six industries under the green investment project . The meeting also decided to include steel mills, rice mills, stone crushing and leather processing industries in the green investment project. Initially, loans of $30 million would be granted to 100 small industrial units. The Chief Minister has ordered to launch an awareness campaign to fight against environmental pollution. The Chief Minister said legislation would be enacted to control the use of plastic for the betterment of the environment while single use of plastic would be ensured to eliminate environmental pollution. The CM was informed that the provincial government will install air and water quality monitoring systems in 10 districts including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Multan, DG Khan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Vehari and other towns . Air quality monitoring systems and water quality monitoring stations would be installed at 30 and 15 locations respectively under the Punjab Green Development Project. It was decided at the meeting to launch an eco-friendly pilot project in Lahore with 25 electric buses. The Chief Minister has ordered the solar panels to be installed on the roofs of government buildings as part of energy-efficient construction plans in administrative divisions. The meeting was informed that six hospitals in DHQ had already been converted to solar energy. The CM said a $50 million environmental endowment fund would be created as part of the proposed green finance strategy. Former Federal Minister Moonis Elahi, Chief Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Former Principal Secretary GM Sikandar, Secretary for Finance, Environment, DG EPA and others attended the meeting.
