First-ever zigzag brick kiln becomes functional in Khanewal

Owner says new technology has reduced coal consumption by 40%

MULTAN:  

South Punjab’s first-ever zigzag brick kiln has been made operational in Jahanian, Khanewal district. After Lahore, this is the first kiln in South Punjab with has been converted to the zigzag technology.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, brick kiln owner Muhammad Khalid Umar says that the technology has reduced coal consumption by 40%. “Over 0.7 million bricks can be baked at the same time,” he reveals. “Around Rs10 million were spent on constructing this brick kiln. Not only does it not cause pollution, it is also cost effective,” he adds.

Environmental expert Dr Umar Ghouri says that zigzag brick kilns emit white smoke, which is not harmful for human health, as compared to the black smoke which is emitted from traditional kilns.

Smog, which is formed when black smoke released from kilns mixes with the atmosphere, causes several diseases. “Asthma, chronic bronchitis, respiratory diseases, eye infections and lungs diseases are some of the maladies that smog can cause,” he explains. All traditional kilns should be converted to the zigzag technology, he suggests.

Most importantly the environmental impact of the new kiln has not gone unnoticed by residents in the area. Abid, a resident in the area, says that the old kiln had caused many health problems in citizens.

“Now, the environment is safe and the air is once again fresh,” he expresses. Previously, the people used to contract lung and eye infections due to the high levels of air pollution. “But the white smoke emitted from the zigzag brick kiln is completely harmless,” he says.

On October 27, the Punjab government imposed a temporary ban on operating traditional brick kilns in the province in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and smog. Taking the extent of air pollution into consideration, the government directed owners to convert to zigzag technology. The technology, which is originally from Nepal, was introduced in Pakistan with the cooperation of the Brick Kiln Owners Association of Pakistan (BKOAP) about a year ago.