ISLAMABAD: The officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday informed the Senate Human Rights Sub-Committee on Environment that it had withdrawn the NOCs issued to stone crushers.

They told the committee that they had also launched a joint operation, in collaboration with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and the Punjab government, against stone crushers.

The CDA has also notified that 115 complaints were received on its environmental hotline 1334 in the last two weeks, out of which 113 were duly attended.

Responding to the complaints by the citizens concerned, the CDA promised to install missing garbage cans on bus stops and other places.

Convener of the sub-committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed sought restoration of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change during the first-ever public hearing on environment at the Parliament House.

“Environment and climate change issue is one of the most important issues facing Pakistan and other countries, which will impact the very survivability of our populations,” the senator said.

He also announced a media workshop for journalists to discuss emerging environmental issues on March 10 at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services.

He said he had commissioned the Climate Change Division and the Inspector General of Forests to prepare a brochure, specifically for journalists, in both English and Urdu for the occasion.

The senator decried that five stone crushers were still illegally operating in the Margalla Hills.

“The Supreme Court order of October 25, 2013 must be implemented in totality. All stone crushers are therefore operating in contempt of court and in violation of the law,” he added.

A notice of this issue was taken and a written explanation sought from the administration of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) on the action taken to shut down these stone crushers.

The ICT has also been asked to brief the committee in its next session.

According to Islamabad Traffic Police, 4,393 vehicles were issued challans for noise pollution and smoke emissions. The public hearing was also attended by Senator Farhatullah Babar and Senator Saeeda Iqbal.