Punjab enforces 'pay polluters' law

In a landmark development for environmental protection, the Punjab government has formally enacted the "Pay Polluters Rules," a new law mandating heavy penalties for individuals and organizations responsible for pollution that poses a threat to public health.

The legislation, approved by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, makes Punjab the first province in Pakistan to adopt international standards for pollution control.

The new law introduces significant fines for air, water, and land pollution, with an emphasis on accountability and deterrence.

To ensure effective enforcement, the government has simultaneously launched a real-time digital monitoring system across ten designated environmental zones.

At the heart of this system is "Khabardaar," an artificial intelligence-based platform that detects pollution levels from industrial chimneys, brick kilns, and vehicles. The system analyses emissions, flags excessive pollutants, and alerts the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for immediate response.

It also identifies illegal activities such as waste dumping in water bodies, garbage burning, and plastic incineration.

Punjab is currently the only province in the country with specialized monitoring teams dedicated to each type of pollutant source.