Rs 479b allocated for Climate Budget Tagging System

LAHORE, Jun 17 (APP): The Punjab government, for the first time in the province, has introduced a Climate Budget Tagging System that made possible an effective monitoring and evaluation of climate impacts on development projects and public expenditures. For this purpose, a hefty amount of Rs. 479 billion is being allocated in the fiscal year 2026-27.

In his budget speech on the floor of Punjab Assembly here Tuesday, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that keeping in view the increasing impacts of climate change, the Punjab government is taking continuous comprehensive measures for the past two years to enhance the capacity to deal with environment protection, natural resource utilization, water conservation, and disasters.

Since inception of the present government, he said, the CM had declared the mitigation of climate change and air pollution as a top priority and started immediate and effective measures for the achievement of these goals. The success achieved in this sector is not due to any single institution or department, rather it is the result of collective efforts. He also paid tribute to the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and all related departments, institutions, and teams. “After years, the black sky of Lahore turned blue again. Its colorful kites, spring, and our civilization and culture returned after years,” he remarked.

The Provincial Finance Minster said that a comprehensive policy and technology-based strategy is being implemented for environmental protection and the eradication of smog in the province. For the mitigation of smog, Rs. 123 billion has been allocated in the fiscal year 2025-26. A Green Punjab Map, 1373 Helpline, AI Chatbot, 8,500 AI Cameras, 67 Quick Response Centers, and Punjab Climate Watch were established. Through these, modern monitoring and enforcement systems have been developed. Satellite monitoring from SPARCO and NASA is being utilized for the prevention of crop residue burning. Under the stubble burning eradication programme, 5,000 super seeders, 15,000 agricultural machinery units, and a project worth Rs. 30 billion for a subsidy-based mechanization programme brought a 65 percent reduction in stubble burning incidents.

For the eradication of industrial pollution, he mentioned, 13,560 industries and approximately 8,000 brick kilns have been connected to a digital system, while Emission Control Systems were installed in 96 percent of industries. For the promotion of Green Mobility, more than 2,000 electric buses, 120,000 electric two-wheelers, and three-wheelers are being introduced. A Buy Back scheme is being introduced for old vehicles that spread pollution and smoke. For the mitigation of dust in urban areas, restoration of Hudiara Drain, tree plantation of 253 million trees, and steps against single-use plastics were taken across 5,112 schools under the “Waste and Wise” programme and Mahmood Booti Green Zone to transform them into environment-friendly development. Under the Green Credit Programme, more than 1.6 million citizens have registered, while 64 percent annual development programs have been climate-tagged, reflecting Punjab’s resolve for a clean, green, and sustainable future.

Inspection of 4,257 educational institutions, 2,076 notices, and planting of 250 million trees brought a significant reduction in dust and air pollution. Furthermore, 508 tons of plastic was confiscated, and a Waste Segregation System was introduced across 5,112 schools through which a clean environment and recycling culture gained promotion.

An amount of approximately Rs. 32 billion is being proposed in Punjab for the mitigation of air and water pollution and environmental monitoring under which the following programs have been introduced:

i) Air Quality Monitoring Systems

ii) Water Quality Monitoring Systems

iii) Punjab Smog Mitigation and Response Initiative – Air Safe

iv) Green Building

v) Climate Observatory

Mian Mujtaba said, the establishment of an Environment Protection Force has been started in 10 zones of Punjab at a cost of Rs. 3.70 billion. In the upcoming fiscal year, Rs. 4 billion 80 crore is being allocated for the construction and expansion of 11 laboratories of the Environment Protection Authority. Projects for the Lahore Air Improvement Framework at a cost of Rs. 44.54 billion and 30 Anti-Smog Guns at a cost of Rs. 4.74 billion will be deployed to make the mitigation of smog and pollution more effective.