Punjab Expands Liquid Tree Project for Smog Reduction with Biotech Solutions

Punjab Expands Liquid Tree Initiative

The Punjab government has decided to expand its Liquid Tree project as part of efforts to develop an eco-friendly province through modern scientific solutions. The initiative, managed by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), uses microalgae-based biotechnology to absorb carbon dioxide and improve urban air quality.

According to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan’s first EPA-certified liquid tree, currently installed in Faisalabad, will be relocated to Lahore as part of the expansion plan. She said more than 100 varieties of microalgae have been collected from different regions of Pakistan for research and implementation under the project.

In the first phase, liquid trees will be installed in major shopping malls and various indoor and outdoor public spaces to help reduce air pollution in urban centers. Maryam Nawaz described the project as a scientific and effective approach to addressing rising carbon dioxide levels and smog, saying such innovative solutions could contribute significantly to improving environmental conditions.

Officials said the initiative reflects Punjab’s broader strategy of adopting technology-driven methods to tackle environmental challenges and improve public health. Meanwhile, the EPA has intensified action against environmentally harmful activities across the province, including demolishing 36 fat-melting units and registering cases against their owners. The agency is also working on a regulatory framework focused on green buffer zones around industrial areas, mandatory plantation campaigns, and stricter controls on tree cutting to reduce industrial pollution.