Smog in Lahore. Photo file: REUTERS
The Punjab government has imposed a province-wide ban on the use of wood and charcoal in restaurants and barbecue establishments in a bid to curb worsening air pollution. All hotels and restaurants have been given 15 days to install suction hoods and smoke control systems or face legal action under environmental laws.
According to a directive issued on Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) have launched joint operations to inspect food outlets and enforce compliance. The order specifically targets barbecue restaurants and traditional cooking establishments known for emitting thick smoke and particulates.
EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said field teams have been mobilized in all districts to ensure immediate implementation. “There is no place for smoke-emitting restaurants in Punjab. Those who fail to install suction systems within 15 days will face strict action,” he said. Sheikh added that deputy commissioners across the province have been directed to supervise the implementation. “Punjab will not tolerate further deterioration in air quality,” he warned.
The new measures are part of an intensified smog mitigation plan being implemented ahead of the winter season, officials said. EPA teams have been ordered to monitor industrial emissions, open burning and vehicle smoke along with restaurant inspections.
The crackdown comes as air quality in Punjab continues to worsen. According to the latest eight-hour report, released by the EPA, the province recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 164, placing it in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category. Gujranwala recorded the highest pollution levels with an AQI of 239, followed by Kasur at 209 and Lahore at 206, all classified as ‘Very Unhealthy’.
Other major cities also reported worrying figures, including Narowal at 183, Faisalabad at 181 and Hafizabad at 175. Even small urban centers like Chiniot, Sialkot and Okara recorded AQI levels between 158 and 175, far exceeding safe limits.
The EPA noted that the ICA calculations were based on data for PM2.5 particles, which pose the greatest health risk due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Health officials warn that exposure to such high levels can cause respiratory distress, reduced immunity and other health complications, particularly among children and older people.
Environmental experts emphasize that consistency in law enforcement remains critical.
Winter and easterly wind intensify Lahore’s smog
Air pollution in Lahore and several other cities in Punjab reached dangerous levels due to low temperatures and polluted air coming from India. IQAir, a global air quality monitoring platform, ranked Lahore as the most polluted city in the world in the morning.
The EPA reported that polluted air from across the eastern border had increased the concentration of fine PM2.5, causing a sharp decline in Lahore’s air quality. The low wind speeds prevented the dispersion of the contaminants, causing them to accumulate near the ground.
The Smog Monitoring Center reported that pollution levels were highest between 6am and 11am with a minor improvement until 5pm and an increase again afterwards.
Health experts advised citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with respiratory or heart conditions, to avoid exposure to the outdoors and keep windows closed.
Understanding the air quality index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool used to communicate air quality and its possible effects on health. It is divided into six categories according to the concentration of pollutants in the air:
Good: With an AQI value between 0 and 50, air quality is considered satisfactory and poses little or no risk to the general population.
Moderate: An AQI value between 51 and 100 indicates acceptable air quality. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for sensitive groups: For AQI values between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups, such as those with respiratory or cardiac conditions, may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Unhealthy: With an AQI value of 151 to 200, some members of the general population may experience health effects, while sensitive groups may face more serious effects.
Very unhealthy: AQI values of 201 to 300 signal a health alert, where the risk of health effects increases for everyone.
Hazardous: An AQI of 301 or higher represents emergency conditions, with a health warning that everyone is more likely to be affected.
