LAHORE:
The Punjab Environment Department has ordered the establishment of environmental buffer zones around industrial areas across the province to reduce pollution and improve public health.
According to the directives issued by Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, director general of Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all industrial estates and zones will now be required to develop green protection belts around their premises to help minimize the effects of smoke, toxic gases and other harmful emissions produced by factories.
The initiative was launched under the Punjab Environment Protection Act, 1997.
According to officials, industrial pollution has become a growing threat to public health, particularly in densely populated urban centers where air quality continues to deteriorate due to factory emissions, vehicle smoke and rampant commercial activities.
The department warned that strict action would be taken against industries and institutions violating environmental regulations.
It also directed industrial units to ensure large-scale plantation drives within their premises and surrounding areas as part of the new policy.
Officials said institutions that did not carry out mandatory tree planting would face legal action, while unauthorized felling of trees has been banned.
The government has also announced measures against encroachments or damage to green belts established around industrial zones.
Additionally, organizations that fail to meet planting targets or environmental compliance requirements will be held liable under environmental laws.
EPA officials have instructed field teams to conduct inspections and ensure strict implementation of the directives across Punjab.
To improve monitoring and supervision, the GIS Department has been assigned the responsibility of mapping industrial areas and identifying locations that require immediate environmental intervention.
Officials say the measure is designed not only to improve environmental conditions but also to create a sustainable balance between industrial expansion and protecting public health.
The initiative comes as the Punjab government expands a province-wide anti-pollution campaign in response to persistent concerns about air quality, especially in Lahore, which is often among the world’s most polluted cities during winter.
The EPA had previously accelerated its efforts to establish plastic-free zones in major shopping centers. The agency had announced that plastic bags smaller than 75 microns were banned as part of a campaign against plastic pollution.
According to official data, the Punjab EPA conducted 3,612 inspections during the first four months of the current year.
It confiscated more than 937,000 kilograms of plastic bags, issued 189 notices and imposed fines worth Rs 3 million.
The officials also sealed 26 premises and registered seven FIRs against violators.
At the same time, the department has stepped up measures against vehicle emissions, another major contributor to urban air pollution.
The EPA recently set up a monitoring desk at the Safe Cities Authority to identify smoke-emitting vehicles through surveillance systems and issue electronic challans to violators. During the current month, fines exceeding Rs 1 million were imposed on 211 vehicles for not meeting emission norms.
According to the latest readings, Lahore recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 83 on Tuesday night, putting it in the moderate category, while Karachi recorded an AQI of 90. Riyadh topped the global pollution ranking with an AQI of 153, followed by Kathmandu and Dhaka.
Officials say the industrial buffer zones, combined with strict enforcement measures, are expected to contribute to long-term environmental improvement across the province.
