The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has intensified preparations for the upcoming smog season by deploying night patrol teams and drones to monitor potential pollution sources across the province.
The night squads are focusing on areas where crop residue burning is suspected, while drones are being used to detect pollution sources and locate alleged violators. Once a potential violation is identified, enforcement teams are sent to the site for further action.
Punjab EPA Director General Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh has instructed field teams to maintain continuous surveillance of pollution-generating activities and respond promptly to violations.
Officials said the approach combines aerial monitoring, night-time surveillance and on-ground inspections to identify activities that could worsen air quality during the smog season.
During the last 24 hours, EPA teams carried out inspections at 431 brick kilns across Punjab.
Five kilns were demolished, nine were sealed and nine first information reports (FIRs) were registered. Authorities also imposed fines amounting to Rs1.4 million.
Enforcement against industrial pollution continued alongside the kiln inspections. Teams checked 269 industrial units, sealing 11 facilities and registering one FIR. Fines worth Rs1.23 million were also imposed.
EPA officials conducted 309 inspections related to violations involving plastic products. Seventeen locations were sealed and 1,297 kilogrammes of plastic were confiscated, while fines totalling Rs148,000 were imposed.
In Lahore, officials carried out 39 inspections, sealed 15 sites and confiscated 30kg of plastic. Fines amounting to Rs60,000 were imposed in the city.
Authorities also stepped up checks against dust generated by construction activities. A total of 17 sites were inspected, with one site sealed and two additional enforcement actions taken. Fines of Rs20,000 were imposed.
The EPA also continued inspections of businesses to ensure compliance with mandatory suction-hood requirements.
Across Punjab, 245 inspections resulted in 34 sites being sealed and 55 enforcement actions related to suction hoods. Officials imposed fines totalling Rs211,500.
In Lahore, 24 inspections were conducted, leading to nine closures, two suction-hood-related actions and fines amounting to Rs135,000.
