LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to launch a province-wide operation against environmental violations ahead of the crop-harvesting season to curb pollution and enforce environmental regulations.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, which reviewed the performance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other departments in enforcing environmental laws over the past year.
The meeting was informed that field monitoring had been intensified and stricter implementation of environmental laws had resulted in a “marked improvement” in the situation.
It was decided that the Environmental Force, EPA and other relevant departments would expand their operations across Punjab and take strict legal action against industrial units, construction sites, vehicles and businesses found violating environmental regulations.
The renewed crackdown comes as Punjab prepares for the crop-harvesting season, a period often associated with a sharp deterioration in air quality due to agricultural activities, industrial emissions and vehicular pollution.
According to the official briefing, environmental authorities inspected 68 industrial units during August, while 58 facilities underwent environmental monitoring. Notices were issued to 18 units for violating environmental laws, while four were sealed.
The authorities also inspected 30 construction sites and sealed six of them over violation of environmental regulations.
The meeting was informed that a crackdown on single-use plastic and polythene had resulted in 314 inspections, the sealing of 36 premises and the confiscation of 44kg plastic products.
The authorities also imposed fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees. Businesses and individuals found violating the regulations were also asked to ensure compliance with environmental laws, the meeting was told.
Vehicular emissions remained another focus of the enforcement campaign. The meeting decided that a zero-tolerance policy against vehicles contributing to air pollution would continue. Monitoring of brick kilns was also continuing to ensure compliance with prescribed standards, the meeting was informed.
The minister appealed to citizens to assist the authorities by reporting incidents of excessive smoke and other environmental violations on the government’s helpline 1373.
stubble burning: In a bid to strictly enforce the ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against burning rice crop residues, the government has massively scaled up its subsidised fleet to 10,000 super seeders, up from just 300 three years ago, to facilitate Eco-friendly disposal of the agricultural waste and curb seasonal smog.
Presiding over a meeting, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani emphasised that strict enforcement measures, including hefty fines and formal warning notices, were being enforced against those violating crop residue disposal protocols.
However, to support growers during the ongoing harvest, the administration is simultaneously expanding provision of the subsidised machinery across the province.
Alongside the heavy investment in super seeders, the fleet of other farm equipment has seen a sharp rise, with the total number of operational balers surging from four to nearly 150, while the number of harvesters has jumped from 100 to approximately 450 units.
The minister reiterated that administrative vigilance will remain active until the completion of the rice harvesting season.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026
