The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched Pakistan’s first skimming boat to remove floating plastic waste from canals and rivers, marking a major step in the province’s fight against plastic pollution.
The pilot project will begin operations in the Lahore Canal, where the boat’s front-mounted collection system will gather plastic bags, bottles, and other floating waste.
Officials said the initiative will help evaluate the technology before expanding it to other waterways across Punjab.
The announcement was made during a seminar in Lahore marking Plastic Bag Free Day. Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kanwal Liaqat and EPA Punjab Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating single-use plastic and protecting the environment.
According to EPA Punjab, more than 50,000 businesses have pledged to stop using banned plastic bags. Enforcement teams have confiscated over 600,000 kilograms of prohibited plastic and imposed fines exceeding Rs20 million on violators.
Officials said the province will continue strengthening its anti-plastic campaign through technology-based monitoring, stricter enforcement, and implementation of the Punjab Plastic Management Strategy 2023.
They also urged citizens and businesses to support efforts to make Punjab a plastic-free and environmentally sustainable province.
Get the latest automobile news, car launches, bike reviews, videos and analysis wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.