ISLAMABAD: The government has closed down 45 brick kilns, out of 82, operating in surroundings of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi after finding them hazards for environment and health.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA)) was regularly monitoring other 37 brick kilns keeping in view all environmental and health aspects, official sources in the Ministry of Climate Change told APP here.
They said Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration was holding meetings with owners of brick kilns to convince them to shift their plants to other suitable places, but they were demanding compensation.
However, they said, if the brick kilns found violating the prescribed rules, “they will be closed down instantly.” They clarified that there was no steel mills and brick kiln located in residential areas of Islamabad. “However, it is a fact that steel mills located in Islamabad industrial area and brick kilns in peri-urban area, do cause environmental pollution.”
To a question, they said the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had been equipped with European software for flood-forecasting, adding that with this technology efficiency of the Met Department had improved considerably.
They said National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Provincial Irrigation Departments (PIDs), PMD and its Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) and Pakistan Communication for Indus Water (PCIW) departments were involved in flood management in the country.
To another question, the sources said in principle, there was a ban on production of non-degradable plastic bags, but it could not implemented due to certain reasons. However, the said, the ministry would expedite the work to ensure ban on such material bags.
