Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam, said that the introduction of new technologies would help quell the growing challenge of smog that causes serious health hazards and environmental hazards during winter months.

Referring to the recent introduction of the Rice Straw Shredder and Happy Seeder technology in Sheikhupura, Malik Amin Aslam said the much-needed technology has been finally launched and being provided to the farmers, which would help them avoid burning of the paddy crop residue and instead convert the residue into organic fertilizer for boosting fertility of their farmlands.

He informed that around hundreds of the pairs of the rice straw shredder and happy seeder technology were being provided to the farmers under a joint multi-billion rupees initiative launched jointly by the Agricultural Engineering Division (Lahore) of the Punjab Agriculture Department and the Federal Ministry of Climate Change.

The technology is being introduced across the country under the present government’s ambitious national project ‘Mechanised Management of Rice Crop Residue’ for which Rs30 billion are being spent for disbursement of the 50,000 units of the rice straw shredder and happy seeder technology to the farmers to stem the stubble burning, which is among the key causes of smog in winter, Malik Amin Aslam elaborated.

He hoped, “Provision of the new technology would prove a great milestone of successful environmental governance by the present government and help quell exacerbating challenge of the smog, which also reflects the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government’s commitment towards taming the smog and protect public health and environment from the heinous pollution.”