Punjab Seals 35 Units, Kilns in Anti-Smog DrivePakistan

In a separate crackdown on brick kilns, officials inspected 513 units, sealed 24 and demolished six, while eight cases were registered against the violators. Fines amounting to Rs1.8 million were also issued in the brick kiln operation.

Authorities also carried out inspections at 183 locations as part of the operation against the use and production of substandard plastic, the minister said.

The action was taken against industrial units, brick kilns, substandard plastic manufacturers and commercial cooking points found violating environmental regulations. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has issued special instructions to the district administration across the province to ensure measures to control pollution.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the anti-smog campaign was not merely aimed at improving air quality index readings, but at permanently eliminating the sources of pollution. She urged farmers to refrain from burning crop stubble and called on citizens to avoid activities that worsen air quality, stressing that everyone had a role to play in protecting the environment.

The crackdown comes as Lahore once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday, recording an average air quality index of 235, according to Aaj. Air quality remained poor across several parts of the city, with Canal Road recording the highest reading at 298, followed by Burki Road at 291.

The province has been carrying out a sustained enforcement campaign against polluting units for weeks. The Punjab Environment Protection Agency intensified its pre-smog operations earlier this season, and figures reported by The News show that during a month-long crackdown between 28 September and 27 October, the agency demolished 197 non-compliant brick kilns, sealed 163 units and registered 162 first information reports.

Smog has returned as a seasonal crisis in Punjab with the onset of winter, when low wind speeds and falling temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground. Lahore has repeatedly ranked among the most polluted major cities in the world in recent weeks, and the provincial government has stepped up inspections, fines and closures in response.

Officials say the enforcement drive will continue across the province, with district administrations instructed to act against smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns, industrial units and open burning, alongside measures to prevent crop-residue burning.