Punjab govt steps up anti-smog drive

Targets kilns, industries, vehicles ahead of winter

LAHORE:

With the onset of the winter smog season still months away, Punjab has stepped up pre-emptive enforcement against major sources of air pollution, launching a province-wide campaign targeting brick kilns, industrial units, plastic manufacturers, construction sites and smoke-emitting vehicles.

In an effort to reduce emissions before pollution levels begin to rise, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said its strategy focuses on early intervention rather than reactive measures, with regional enforcement teams directed to intensify inspections, strengthen compliance and deploy pollution-control equipment across the province.

Officials say the campaign aims to limit the build-up of pollutants that typically worsen during the colder months when weather conditions trap emissions close to the ground.

The province's preparedness was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Director General EPA Punjab Syed Musa Raza, attended by directors of all EPA directorates and regional field officers. The meeting assessed district-wise readiness, enforcement targets and monitoring mechanisms, while directing regional offices to accelerate inspections and ensure strict implementation of environmental laws.

As part of the anti-smog preparations, the EPA has also intensified monitoring of construction activities, where dust emissions are a major source of particulate pollution. Officials also inspected the operation of fog cannon machines and ordered uninterrupted use of anti-smog equipment at major construction sites.

The EPA DG directed that fog cannons and mist sprinklers should be activated wherever particulate pollution increases, particularly in areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds permissible limits, based on real-time monitoring.

Industrial units have likewise been instructed to keep emission-control and filtration systems fully operational throughout the pre-smog period. Officials warned that factories bypassing pollution-control mechanisms would face sealing, prosecution and financial penalties under environmental laws.

Special enforcement squads are being deployed at city entry and exit points to inspect heavy transport vehicles, conduct emissions testing and initiate legal action against vehicles exceeding prescribed emission standards.

Official enforcement data released by the EPA for the period from January 1 to July 25, 2026, reflects the scale of the campaign. Inspection teams visited 45,736 brick kilns across Punjab, demolishing 777 illegal structures, sealing 419 units, registering 762 first information reports (FIRs) and imposing fines amounting to Rs67.76 million.

Industrial pollution remained another key focus area. During the reporting period, EPA teams inspected 27,384 industrial units, sealed 694 facilities, demolished 272 structures, registered 175 FIRs and imposed fines totalling Rs123 million for environmental violations.