LAHORE:The Punjab Environment Protection Department has expanded the use of modern anti-smog gun technology to combat smog, extending operations from Lahore, where the initiative was launched as a pilot project last year, to Gujranwala.
According to the department, anti-smog gun operations have formally begun in Gujranwala, while Sheikhupura, Faisalabad and Multan will be included in the next phase to help mitigate the local effects of air pollution in more major cities across the province.
Under the supervision of Director General Environment Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh, field enforcement operations have also been intensified throughout Punjab. Drone squads, night squads and Hawk Eye field teams are continuously monitoring pollution sources to ensure their prompt identification and immediate action against violators.
During the last 24 hours, environmental enforcement teams conducted extensive operations against various sources of pollution, including industrial units, brick kilns, substandard plastic, barbecue outlets and commercial cooking points. Several premises were sealed, kilns demolished, cases registered and fines amounting to millions of rupees imposed.
The department inspected 270 industrial units across Punjab during the last 24 hours. Five units were issued notices, while 11 received specific smog-related notices. Seven industrial units were sealed for violations, and fines totalling Rs1.6 million were imposed.
Enforcement teams inspected 443 brick kilns, issuing smog-related notices to three. Seven kilns were demolished, four were sealed, and an FIR was registered against one kiln. Fines amounting to Rs1.95 million were imposed for violations of environmental regulations.
Authorities inspected 227 locations in operations against substandard plastic. Notices were issued to five locations, nine premises were sealed, and 840 kilogrammes of substandard plastic were confiscated. A fine of Rs97,000 was also imposed.
Enforcement teams inspected 104 barbecue outlets and commercial cooking points, issuing smog-related notices to 27 locations. Suction hoods were installed at 48 locations, while 10 premises were sealed. Fines amounting to Rs60,000 were imposed for violations.