CDA Prioritizes Smog Mitigation and Environmental Protection in Islamabad

Date: Nov 05, 2025

ISLAMABAD: November 4, 2025: An important meeting on smog mitigation and environmental protection in Islamabad was held on Tuesday at the CDA Headquarters under the chairmanship of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by environmental and forest expert Rizwan Mehboob, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, and other senior officers. The Chief Conservator of the Sindh Forest Department and his team also participated via Zoom. During the meeting, a series of measures were discussed and approved to control smog, reduce air pollution, and strengthen environmental protection efforts in the federal capital. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized that, in line with the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, combating smog and ensuring a cleaner, greener Islamabad are among the government’s top priorities. He stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to control smog and enforce the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in letter and spirit. The forum was informed that multiple initiatives are underway to curb emissions from the transport sector, brick kilns, industries, and other pollution sources. Chairman CDA directed that vehicle carbon emission testing be made mandatory to control vehicular pollution. He further instructed that emissions testing must be certified by accredited laboratories, ensuring strict compliance across the Capital. Regarding brick kilns, the meeting was apprised that those not adopting modern, eco-friendly technologies or found in violation of environmental regulations are being demolished under the law. The Chairman directed that all brick kilns and industries in Islamabad must transition to cleaner technologies without delay. He also ordered a complete ban on open burning of waste and called for legal action against violators. To reduce dust pollution from development projects, he instructed that regular water sprinkling at construction sites be ensured, along with full adherence to Pak-EPA regulations and SOPs. Environmental expert Rizwan Mehboob suggested adopting plant species effective in air purification and smog reduction for afforestation drives. He also recommended launching community awareness campaigns and promoting carpooling to minimize vehicular emissions. The Sindh Forest Department briefed the meeting on its Indus Delta Blue Carbon Project for mangrove restoration, highlighting opportunities for carbon credit generation. The participants also discussed initiating similar projects in Margalla Hills National Park and other green zones in Islamabad. Chairman CDA directed the formulation of projects for carbon credit acquisition under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and to benefit from the experience of the Sindh Forest Department in this domain. At the conclusion, the meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Capital Development Authority to advancing smog control, environmental protection, and sustainable urban development in Islamabad.