LAHORE – In a bold step toward combating Punjab’s growing environmental challenges, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a sweeping expansion of the Environmental Protection Force (EPF), with 1,000 new officers and personnel to be recruited by September 2025.
The initiative marks a significant upgrade from the force’s original deployment of 250 personnel, transforming it from a basic regulatory entity into a high-tech, rapid-response environmental task force. According to the Punjab Environment Protection Department, the new EPF will utilize advanced tools such as drones, satellite monitoring, mobile air and water testing labs, electric motorbikes, hybrid vehicles, and smog analyzers to monitor and respond to ecological threats in real time.
Environment Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar identified seven urban centers — Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, and Faisalabad — as critical environmental hotspots suffering from severe air and water pollution caused by unchecked urbanization, industrial activity, and plastic waste.
“These cities are not just environmentally vulnerable; they are hazardous,” said Anwar, stressing the urgent need for scientific and structured intervention.
The upgraded EPF will also lead awareness campaigns, work with schools and communities, and assist local governments in climate resilience efforts. To ensure performance and transparency, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are being developed to track enforcement, pollution control, and public engagement outcomes.
Story by Asif Mehmood Butt
