LAHORE: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab has accelerated preparations for the upcoming smog season, directing its field formations to conduct comprehensive pre-smog inspections and take strict action against major sources of air pollution across the province. The directions were issued during a meeting of EPA Punjab field officers chaired by Director General Environment Punjab Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh, where preparations for the pre-smog period, enforcement strategy, inter-departmental coordination and public awareness measures were reviewed. The DG directed field officers to remain active in their respective jurisdictions, identify pollution hotspots and take immediate action against smoke-emitting entities. He stressed that enforcement should cover all major sources of pollution and that preventive measures must be implemented before air quality deteriorates. Sheikh said the department would adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards visible smoke and excessive emissions, directing officers to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and regulations. A major focus of the meeting was regulation of brick kilns. The DG made it clear that no brick kiln would be allowed to operate without compliant zig-zag technology. Field formations were directed to identify non-compliant kilns and initiate action against those violating environmental requirements. Industrial emissions were also reviewed. Industries were directed to install and properly operate emission-control systems, while EPA teams were tasked with inspecting industrial units and verifying their pollution-control arrangements. Action would be taken against units exceeding permissible emission limits or operating without the required control mechanisms. The meeting also reviewed measures to control fugitive dust, particularly during the dry pre-smog period. Officers were instructed to monitor construction sites, unpaved roads, material storage areas, industrial premises, stone-crushing units and other dust-generating activities, ensuring implementation of appropriate dust-suppression measures. The DG further ordered enhanced scrutiny of Heavy Transport Vehicles (HTVs), smoke-emitting vehicles and other mobile sources. EPA teams were directed to coordinate with traffic and transport authorities to take action against vehicles emitting excessive smoke and pollutants. Special attention was also directed towards construction and development activities. Officers were asked to ensure proper handling and transportation of construction material, prevent uncovered movement of soil and debris and ensure adequate water sprinkling to control particulate pollution. The meeting emphasised a coordinated district-level mechanism for pre-smog preparations. EPA officers were directed to work closely with district administrations and allied departments, including traffic, transport and local government authorities, to ensure effective action against pollution sources. The DG also called for awareness campaigns involving industries, brick-kiln owners, transporters, farmers, businesses and the general public to promote measures aimed at reducing emissions. “Pre-smog action is essentially preventive action. Our objective is to identify and control pollution sources before they contribute to a severe deterioration in air quality, ” Sheikh said, according to officials familiar with the meeting. He directed field officers to maintain regular monitoring of pollution-generating activities and submit reports on enforcement and compliance. Actions against violators were to be properly documented, with particular attention to repeat offenders. The meeting also instructed the field formations to monitor identified pollution hotspots and respond promptly to complaints received from citizens. Sheikh emphasised that awareness and stakeholder engagement would complement enforcement, but would not shield those deliberately violating environmental requirements. He said Punjab’s pre-smog strategy would focus on controlling emissions at source rather than relying solely on measures after air quality had already deteriorated. Field officers were directed to remain visible in the field and ensure uniform implementation of environmental regulations across the province. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
EPA Punjab steps up pre-smog preparations
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