Lahore: On the directives of Punjab Director General (DG) Environment Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh, the crackdown against polluters has been intensified. Through the continuous monitoring efforts of the drone squad, night squad, and ‘Hawk-Eye’ field squad, 37 polluting units were demolished across the province.
According to the Environment Department, the demolished facilities included 21 brick kilns and 16 industrial units. Over the past 24 hours, inspections were conducted on 441 brick kilns and 270 industrial units.
Actions against brick kilns resulted in the demolition of 21 kilns, the sealing of 4, while the registration of 6 FIRs, and the imposition of fines totaling Rs 2.5 million. Regarding industrial units, 16 working units were demolished, five were sealed, one FIR was registered, and fines amounting to Rs 1.6 million were imposed.
In operations targeting plastic violations, 253 inspections led to the confiscation of 3,145 kilograms of plastic and the sealing of 26 premises. Barbecue and commercial cooking points were also inspected, suction hoods were installed at 30 of the 52 locations checked.
The Environment Department stated that the drone, night, and Hawk-Eye field squads remain active around the clock, maintaining continuous surveillance of pollution sources, including smog hotspots.
Punjab Director General of Environment Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh has stated that enforcement actions against violators of environmental laws will be further intensified ahead of the smog season.