Islamabad Oct 22: Punjab Government Launches Anti-Smog Squad to Combat Air Pollution. Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister, is dedicated to helping the people and fostering economic growth for their well-being. To address air pollution, the CM’s Smog Control Program is making use of all available resources.
Speaking as a special guest at a ceremony on Monday at Agriculture House to commemorate the activation of the Kisan Card and the establishment of the Anti-Smog Team, Punjab’s Senior Provincial Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, made these statements. She underlined that as part of the CM’s smog reduction strategy, all pertinent departments have been given particular duties.
A zero-tolerance policy against burning paddy residue is in place. The minister announced that an Anti-Smog Team has been formed within the agriculture department, targeting paddy-growing areas at the tehsil level to offer technical assistance to farmers.
The chief minister has established a special helpline (1373) for reporting incidents that contribute to smog. In the first phase, 5,000 super seeders are being distributed to farmers for Rs5 billion, with a 60 percent subsidy. These machines will help make use of paddy residue.
Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, the provincial minister for agriculture and livestock, referred to this day as historic and emphasized how the Kisan Card’s activation will revolutionize the landscape for small farmers.
The Kisan Card will assist farmers in escaping the exploitation of middlemen, in keeping with the CM’s objective. 80% of applicants would receive loans through this initiative for the first time, and the card will offer Rs150 billion in interest-free agricultural loans yearly.
“The current government is taking concrete measures for farmers’ prosperity, allocating 250 percent more budget to agriculture in the 2024-25 budget compared to the previous year,” he continued, adding that previous governments had just politicized agriculture.
The agriculture department established a smog policy as part of the CM’s Smog Control Program, and it is currently being put into effect. Special powers have been awakened for the Anti-Smog Squad, and super seeders are being dispersed. The team will file lawsuits against persons who burn agricultural leftovers in addition to spreading awareness of the risks involved.
Punjab has grown 6.6 million acres of paddy this year, and harvesting is now under way, according to Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo. Field formations have been given specific roles to help prevent pollution. In order to improve outreach efforts, he also disclosed that 22 anti-smog squads, outfitted with specialized vehicles, are being established in areas known for cultivating paddy.
Additionally, the activation of the Kisan Card will allow farmers to quickly purchase wheat inputs, bypassing middlemen.
