Punjab claims 13.5pc reduction in Lahore’s PM2.5 pollution

Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday claimed a 13.5 per cent reduction in Lahore’s PM2.5 pollution, s

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday claimed a 13.5 per cent reduction in Lahore’s PM2.5 pollution, saying the government stepped up measures to control emissions ahead of the peak smog season.

She said that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore had remained below 250 so far this season and urged citizens to get their vehicles tested and continue supporting the anti-smog campaign.

Addressing a press conference at the EPA Green Building, Aurangzeb said the deadline for vehicle emission testing had been extended from October 15 to November 15. EP&CCD Secretary Silwat Saeed and EPA Director General Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh were also present at the occasion.

Senior Minister informed around 500,000 vehicles had received emission certificates last year, while private workshops were now being included in the testing system. “Safe City cameras were being used to identify smoke-emitting vehicles, while action was also being taken against government vehicles violating emission standards,” she said, adding that vehicles entering Murree would be required to carry emission-testing certificates, she added.

The minister said cameras were also being used to monitor industrial emissions, with inventories of around 8,000 industrial units being prepared. A study had identified nine pollution hotspots for targeted action, while the government planned to establish low-emission zones in heavily polluted areas. Reference laboratories were also supporting environmental monitoring, minister continued.

Aurangzeb said around 8,000 brick kilns across Punjab had been converted to zigzag technology, including 709 that had been fully mechanised. QR codes had been assigned to the kilns to improve monitoring.

To discourage crop residue burning, the government had provided 10,000 super seeders to farmers at a 60 per cent subsidy. The minister said the government was focusing on controlling pollution at its sources rather than relying on artificial rain. “Fifteen smog guns were operational, with another 15 being procured for other districts.”

Citing government figures, she said pollution indicators across Punjab had declined by 33 per cent, while certain indicators had fallen by around 13 per cent last year. She also referred to a World Bank report, which she said supported the EPA’s findings on a decline in pollution. However, no detailed breakdown of the periods, monitoring locations or methodology behind the different reduction figures was provided at the press conference.

Aurangzeb said a 1,000-member environmental enforcement force was using drones, cameras and digital systems to identify violations. Action was being taken against the burning of garbage, tyres and plastic, while sprinklers were being installed at construction sites to control dust.

She said the government planned to introduce 3,000 electric buses into public service by next June. The provision of electric bikes to 100,000 students was another initiative aimed at promoting cleaner transport.

The minister said 12 government departments were working together to tackle smog. Citizens could report environmental violations and smoke-emitting vehicles through helpline 1373.

She urged farmers, industrialists, brick kiln owners, transporters and the public to comply with environmental rules, stressing that sustained improvement in air quality required continued cooperation alongside government action.