LAHORE:Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal on Tuesday ordered action against those causing environmental pollution as part of measures to control smog.

The chief secretary issued the direction during a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.

The additional chief secretary (home), administrative secretaries of various departments, including environment, industries, agriculture, local government, and other officials concerned participated in the meeting.

Mr Afzal asked the secretaries concerned to take strict action against those causing air and environmental pollution through industrial and vehicular emissions, burning crops stubble and garbage. He said to mitigate the f actors causing smog, there is a need to adopt prevendve measures and enhance awareness.

He said the ban on the use of substandardfuelin steel mills and factories bestrictly enforced.

He added that progress in this regard would be reviewed regularly.

The CS also issued instrucdonsregarding the formation of special squads to check industrial units and brick kilns for pollution.

EnvironmentProtection Department secretary gave a detailed briefing at the meeting, saying an action plan had been devised to control smog.

According to a study, 43 per cent of contributors to air pollution are from the transport sector, 25pc from industry, 12pc from power and 20pc are from the agriculture sector.

He said this year, more than 4,000 industrial units were inspected, 79 cases registered, 19 people arrested and 88 units were sealed for causing pollution.

Similarly, 11,000 brick kilns were inspected, 736 cases registered and 19 people were arrested over similar charges.

The authorities also took action against 29,200 smoke-emitting vehicles, lodging 7,000 FIRs and impounding 17,600 vehicles.