Brick kilns, factories put under microscope

In an effort to combat the looming threat of smog, 240 brick kilns were sealed over a staggering 295 violations of environmental protection legislation. Commissioner Multan Engineer Aamir Khattak launched an unprecedented crackdown against industrial units causing smog on Tuesday.

Spearheaded by Deputy Director of Environment Maher Shamshad, a team inspected 20 brick kilns on Tuesday, with five being sealed due to their alarming contribution to environmental pollution. This robust initiative also saw the comprehensive scrutiny of factories, with a stern notice being served to one factory, said an official source.

The relentless pursuit of cleaner air, as mandated by the Punjab government, has propelled the anti-smog operation and yielded remarkable outcomes in the region.

Multan’s 479 brick kilns, notorious for their emissions, were heavily scrutinised. An astounding 240 kilns were sealed for a staggering 295 violations. Additionally, 44 cases were registered against kiln owners and Rs5,100,000 in fines were imposed.

With regards to factories, of the 354 industrial units inspected, 223 were scrutinised and 218 units were punished with a hefty fine of Rs500,000 due to air pollution offenses.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2023.