Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered emergency measures to tackle the worsening smog situation in the province. Authorities have been instructed to immediately shut down under-construction buildings, roads, and industrial sites found in violation of environmental SOPs.
According to reports, polluted winds from India’s eastern states are drifting towards Lahore, Faisalabad, and central Punjab, causing a significant deterioration in air quality.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to remain between 270 and 320, placing the atmosphere in the hazardous category.
During enforcement operations in Lahore, the EPA demolished a polluting plastic unit operating near the Hadiara Drain and seized 412 tons of substandard and illegal plastic, which is now being processed for recycling.
Night patrols by district administration teams, police, and the agriculture department are ongoing, while drone surveillance has helped reduce incidents of crop residue burning.
The Environment Department warns that low wind speeds and falling temperatures may worsen smog conditions further.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities after 7 PM and between 12 PM to 3 PM.
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The Punjab government has stated that smoke-emitting vehicles will be taken off the roads, carpooling will be encouraged, and strict enforcement of environmental laws will be ensured.
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said Punjab is undergoing a climate-resilient paradigm shift, with eco-friendly policies being implemented. She added that the plan to provide modern agricultural machinery will be completed before the 2026 crop season.
