Anti-smog drive: 11 industrial units sealed, Rs1.23 million in fines

Authorities in Punjab have intensified action against environmental pollution ahead of the smog season.

Authorities in Punjab have intensified action against environmental pollution ahead of the smog season. During inspections of 269 industrial units over the past 24 hours, 11 units were sealed a case was registered against one unit and fines totaling Rs1.23 million were imposed.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also activated drone night and Hawk Eye field squads to monitor pollution sources and take action against violators.

Officials said Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 158. Wind speeds ranged between 2 and 7 miles per hour with winds moving from the south toward the north and east.

EPA Punjab Director General Abdullah Nair Sheikh has directed field teams to take immediate action against sources of pollution.

As part of the anti-smog campaign, authorities inspected 431 brick kilns across the province. Five kilns were demolished and nine were sealed while nine cases were registered and fines totaling Rs1.4 million were imposed.

Officials also inspected 309 locations as part of a crackdown on substandard plastic. Seventeen locations were sealed 1,297 kilograms of plastic were confiscated and fines totaling Rs148,000 were imposed.

Meanwhile, 245 restaurants and commercial cooking points were inspected. Authorities sealed 34 locations and took action at 55 sites regarding the installation or use of suction hoods.

To control dust pollution water was sprayed over 1,178 kilometers of roads.

Authorities are also monitoring areas near motorways at night through drones and night squads to identify possible locations where crop residues may be burned.

Officials said more than 215,000 farmers have been contacted directly to prevent the burning of crop residues while more than 431,000 farmers have completed awareness and training programmes.

Senior Punjab Minister Mariyum Aurangzeb urged farmers and citizens to cooperate with the government’s anti-smog efforts and dispose of crop residues through environmentally friendly methods.

The measures are part of Punjab’s preparations to control pollution and reduce the impact of smog as the season approaches.