Twenty-one restaurants have been sealed, and notices have been issued to more than 150 restaurants and barbecue outlets in Rawalpindi for violating environmental regulations.
According to details, the Environment Department in Rawalpindi has intensified its crackdown on restaurants, tikka houses and barbecue points on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The Environment Department said its field and night squads conducted operations in different areas and sealed 21 restaurants for violations of environmental laws. Notices were also issued to more than 150 restaurants and barbecue outlets.
During the operations, environmental regulations were enforced at several locations. The restaurants sealed included Shahi Tikka House, Mansha Tikka House, Red Onion, Amroz Shinwari, Khyber Shinwari, Qissa Khwani Kebab, Butt Foods, HM Foods and Lahori Chaska, among others.
According to the Environment Department, the operations were conducted under the supervision of Maryam Aurangzeb, Environment Secretary Salwat Saeed, Director General EPA Abdullah Nair Sheikh and Deputy Director EPA Rawalpindi Saadia Batool.
Inspectors Rana Umair Asad, Amanullah and Umar Farooq, along with Field Assistant Tanveer Hussain Shah and Jawad Azim, participated in the operations.
Environment Department officials said night monitoring and legal action would continue across the city without discrimination to control environmental pollution.