Brick kilns continue polluting methods

As the wave of urbanization takes the country in its grip, industrial activity has observed an exponential growth, with new housing societies and apartment complexes springing up at every nook and corner of major urban centers. While industrialization can be seen as a positive step towards generating greater revenue for the country's struggling economy, the government's failure to properly enforce eco-friendly methods of brick production have complicated the trade-off between improving the province's finances and its air quality.

Despite the National Disaster Management Authority announcing the closure of nearly 7,986 black-smoke emitting brick kilns in Punjab in 2021 by shifting them to the zig-zag method, even today a large number of brick kilns are working in Punjab without the zigzag technology due to which several members of the Pakistan Kiln Owner's Association have filed a complaint to the Lahore High Court, urging the judicial body to take notice of the matter.

According to Maher Abdul Haq, Senior Vice Chairman at the Pakistan Kiln Owner's Association, the government's claims that brick kilns had been shifted to zigzag technology were completely false. "The World Bank had given funds worth two billion rupees for the Green and Clean programme. The government had promised to give loans to the owners in easy installments to shift the brick kilns to the zig-zag method, but this was not implemented. Those funds were earlier with the Punjab Environment Department and were later transferred to the Industries Department.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Punjab submitted false reports to the Smog Commission in 2021. By installing blowers in the brick kilns, it was claimed that the kilns were moved to a zig-zag method, although employing the zig-zag method means that the brick filling would be different than the conventional manner," claimed Haq.

Rebuking Haq's claims, Raja Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Department of Environment Protection and Climate Change affirmed that the PDMA had shifted all the kilns to zigzag method in 2021 but the kiln owners later abandoned that modern method.

"Hence, actions are being taken against them now. Under the zigzag method, bricks are filled in a zigzag manner instead of straight. After that, strong air is given with the help of a blower which spreads the fire rapidly. The zigzag method requires the use of coal. Kiln owners burn old car tires and old clothes to save electricity and coal costs, which produces extremely toxic smoke.

People who spread pollution do not realize that our future is being destroyed because of them. Therefore, the kilns are now being demolished as a last resort. Violating kilns have also been fined lakhs of rupees," divulged Anwar.

According to a report by ICI Mode, 52 per cent of nearly 20,000 brick kilns in Pakistan are located in Punjab, 93 per cent of which are still relying on outdated, black-smoke emitting modes of brick production.

Approximately, 328.2 tonnes of coal is used annually in brick kilns across the country, where environmental experts warn that any further delays in the complete implementation of eco-friendly, zig-zag technology will worsen the effects of smog with each passing year.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Senior Provincial Minister, Maryam Aurangzeb said, "The Punjab Chief Minister's policy against smog is categorical. All kilns operating without zigzag technology will be demolished. There is zero tolerance for violation of environmental laws. Environmental pollution has fatal repercussions for human health. Therefore, not a single kiln will be allowed to run without zigzag technology throughout Punjab."