Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered emergency measures to tackle worsening smog across the province, directing immediate closure of all under-construction buildings, roads, and sites found violating environmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
According to official sources, polluted winds from India’s eastern states as Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh are drifting toward Lahore, Faisalabad, and central Punjab, pushing the air quality to hazardous levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to remain between 270 and 320, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category.
During ongoing enforcement operations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lahore demolished Saleem Bhatti’s unit located on Hadiara Drain for causing heavy pollution. Authorities also seized 412 tons of substandard and illegal plastic, initiating recycling procedures.
District administration, police, and agriculture department teams continue night patrols and drone surveillance, which officials say have helped significantly reduce incidents of crop residue burning.
The EPD has warned that stagnant winds and dropping temperatures may further aggravate smog conditions.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity between 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., when pollution concentration peaks.
The Punjab government has also announced a crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles, promotion of carpooling, and strict enforcement of environmental laws.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Punjab is undergoing a “climate-resilient paradigm shift”, with eco-friendly policies being implemented. She added that by the 2026 season, the government aims to complete its plan to supply modern agricultural machinery to help reduce environmental degradation.
