Weak winds, Indian air currents worsen Lahore smog

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has said that weak winds in Lahore and air currents arriving from India are contributing to the deterioration of air quality in the provincial capital.

In a statement, she said the provincial government was continuing monitoring, preventive measures and field enforcement operations to control air pollution and address the sources of smog.

Aurangzeb said action had been taken against industrial units found violating environmental regulations. Three industrial units had been sealed, cases registered against their owners and fines totalling Rs1.6 million imposed.

She added that the government was also taking strict action against brick kilns operating in violation of environmental standards.

According to the senior minister, four brick kilns had been demolished, while eight others were sealed. Cases were also registered against four kiln operators, and fines amounting to Rs1 million were imposed.

The provincial government has also intensified inspections of factories involved in manufacturing substandard plastic products. Aurangzeb said 178 locations had been inspected during the crackdown, resulting in the sealing of 13 sites.

Environmental enforcement teams also confiscated 613 kilogrammes of plastic material during the inspections.

Highlighting measures to prevent crop residue burning, the minister said authorities had issued 516,327 warning notices as part of ongoing efforts to discourage farmers from setting fire to agricultural waste.

She maintained that monitoring and enforcement activities were continuing across Punjab to tackle pollution and improve air quality.

The measures are part of the provincial government’s broader efforts to control smog by targeting industrial emissions, polluting brick kilns, plastic manufacturing facilities and the burning of crop residues.