Industrial pollution troubles Sheikhupura residents

Industrial pollution troubles Sheikhupura residents

SHEIKHUPURA: Toxic smoke, ash and industrial emissions have made life increasingly difficult for residents of several densely populated areas of Sheikhupura, prompting locals to demand strict action against factories allegedly responsible for worsening air quality.

Residents of E-Community Housing Society, Housing Colony, Chaudhry Mill Stop, Harya Tibba, Zafarabad, Joiya Wala Mor and Akbar Town said industrial smoke and fine ash regularly spread into residential neighbourhoods.

According to locals, the pollution becomes more intense at night, when thick smoke enters homes and makes it difficult for families to breathe comfortably even with doors and windows shut. The situation becomes particularly troublesome during summer, when people often sleep on rooftops or spend time outdoors to escape the heat.

Residents said they frequently find their vehicles, clothes, rooftops and house walls covered with a layer of ash and black particles by morning.

Senior Medical Officer at the Mothers and Children Complex, District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura, Dr Gulfam Mubarak Virk, warned that prolonged exposure to smoke and fine particulate matter could seriously affect human health.

He said tiny particles could penetrate deep into the lungs and cause coughing, throat and eye irritation, breathing difficulties, chest tightness and wheezing. Continued exposure could also raise the risk of asthma, bronchitis, chronic respiratory diseases, reduced lung function and cardiovascular problems.

Dr Gulfam said children face greater risks because their lungs are still developing. He added that elderly people, pregnant women and individuals with existing heart or lung conditions also remain particularly vulnerable to polluted air.

“Clean air is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right of every human being,” he said, warning that continued negligence could create serious health consequences for future generations.

Meanwhile, Omer Hayat Khan, general secretary of the E-Community Welfare Society and a resident of E-Community Society on Lahore Road, alleged that several paper mills, chemical factories and glass units surrounding residential areas operate throughout the day and contribute to persistent pollution.

Khan claimed residents had repeatedly approached the district administration and Environment Protection Department over the issue but had seen little effective action.

He further alleged that some industrial units burn prohibited materials, including waste, plastic and rubber, particularly during nighttime hours. According to him, the resulting black smoke and ash spread across nearby neighbourhoods, making breathing difficult and leaving a layer of black particles on homes and other surfaces.

Residents have called for regular inspections of industrial units, strict enforcement of environmental laws and immediate action against factories found violating pollution-control regulations.