Maryam declares war on smog at COP-30 | The Express Tribune

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said climate protection will remain at the heart of every government decision, declaring that “the fight against smog is no longer a slogan but a mission”.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Pakistan Pavilion at COP-30 in Belém, Brazil, she unveiled an extensive vision for a sustainable and climate-resilient Punjab, said a detailed handout issued by the Punjab government on Tuesday.

The vision, the statement said, outlined a series of reforms, projects, and technological interventions aimed at safeguarding the environment and revitalizing the province’s natural ecosystem.

Maryam announced that the budget to combat smog has been increased from Rs94 billion to Rs123 billion, marking a major policy shift toward green governance.

“Punjab’s forests are no longer silent, and its lakes no longer still—the heartbeat of nature is returning,” she said, describing the province’s transition toward eco-friendly fuels and waste-to-energy projects under the Punjab Clean Air and E-Mobility Vision.

The CM revealed that ten automated rapid transit systems will be introduced in major cities, while landfill sites are being turned into solar parks and green forests.

Clean water and sanitation have also been prioritized, with district water and sanitation authorities established in 41 districts and initiatives launched in 66 cities. “We are developing 2,500 model villages, each with access to clean drinking water and sanitation,” she added.

Under the Plastic Management Cell, more than 2.5 million citizens have pledged to reduce plastic use. The Punjab Wildlife and Biodiversity Programme has rescued over 35,000 birds and 700 animals, including 23 bears from captivity.

She said South Asia’s largest wildlife hospital and three rescue centres are being built, while special environmental courts have begun penalizing illegal wildlife trade with sentences of up to seven years and Rs5 million fines.

Referring to the 2025 floods, which submerged 27 districts and affected five million people, she said the disaster led to the creation of the Punjab Climate Resilient 2025 Initiative, integrating data governance and citizen support systems. “We turned crisis into capability,” she said, emphasizing coordinated institutional response and rebuilding efforts.

Highlighting Punjab’s leadership in scientific climate management, the CM said that 100 air-quality stations are now linked to an AI-powered Smog War Room, while South Asia’s first real-time Climate Observatory is being established in Lahore in collaboration with SUPARCO and NASA.

More than 8,500 Safe City cameras and thermal sensors now track pollution, and every industry and brick kiln is geo-tagged and QR-coded to ensure compliance.