Deadline for sealing brick kilns extended for another week

Met department officials stated that the weather conditions for next week will remain favourable

LAHORE:  

In view of the current weather conditions, the Smog Commission has decided to extend the deadline for sealing brick kilns by one week.

This decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the Smog Commission Chairman Dr Pervaiz Hassan at the Environment Protection Department (EPD) on Thursday.

A representative from Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) briefed the meeting on the current weather situations which are favourable due to wind direction. The representative highlighted that the pollutants released from burning crops are mainly concentrated towards the eastern border of India. Because of the direction of the wind, Pakistan is safe from smog, for now.

Officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department added that in the next week, weather conditions will remain favourable. However, there may be some trouble during the first week of November.

In light of this information, the Smog Commission chairman decided to extend the date for the closure of brick kilns by another week.

The chairman stated that Punjab has been divided into three zones; red, yellow and red. Green zones are those where smoke emissions are minimum. No brick kilns will be sealed in such areas. Yellow zones are areas where there is moderate smoke emission. These areas will be monitored and analysed for abrupt weather changes. Red zones are areas where there is a large amount of smoke emission; all kilns using older forms of technology will be banned in these areas, he explained.

He maintained that brick kilns that had converted to zig zag technology will be exempt from this ban. The chairman added that every step will be taken according to the directives issued by the Supreme Court in order to avoid smog in the province. He said that all the decisions are made in light of the scientific data received from satellite imagery and the met department.

EPD Secretary Zafar Nasarullah and Brick Kiln Owners Association President Shoaib Khan Niazi also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Lahore Division Commissioner Dr Mujtaba Paracha highlighted the fact that a fine of Rs0.618 million has been imposed those who are not following the instructions that have been issued regarding smog. The government has also registered 207 FIRs for such violations. He added that Section 144 has been imposed in the entire division on burning the remains of crops.

He maintained that specially constituted committees are functioning at district and tehsil levels to ensure the implementation of anti-smog directions.

Previously, the Punjab government announced it would seal all those brick kilns which have not adopted the prescribed technology from October 27.