Islamabad, July 30, 2025: The Punjab government is set to significantly enhance its environmental monitoring efforts by increasing the number of Air Quality Monitors to 100 across the province—an impressive leap from just three monitors in past years.
According to Silwat Saeed, Secretary for Environment Protection and Climate Change, around 60 air monitoring devices have already been installed and are fully functional. The remaining 40 are expected to be set up by the end of the ongoing financial year.
“Our aim is to have 100 monitors in place, and the allocated budget for this year stands between Rs3 to Rs4 billion,” she said. She termed this progress a “remarkable achievement,” made possible through solid planning and cooperation with international partners.
Starting next month, the department will introduce a live dashboard, giving the general public access to real-time air quality readings.
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“These devices are connected with IQAir, allowing people to monitor air pollution levels through the internet at any time,” she explained, highlighting improved public access to environmental data.
Silwat Saeed further shared that the department has adopted new methods, including digital inspections supported by modern tools, for checking pollution in industries.
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“In the old system, officials had to visit industrial units physically. Now we can identify pollution violations remotely using advanced technologies,” she said.
In addition, 15 fog cannons have been temporarily installed in Lahore as part of a test project to reduce smog and airborne pollutants. The Air Quality Monitors will play a crucial role in measuring the impact of such efforts.
This expansion is seen as a step toward a cleaner, healthier Punjab for all its citizens.
