Faisalabad forms 16-member body to combat smog

Cracks down on polluting units, imposes Rs3.7m in fines

FAISALABAD:

Commissioner Faisalabad Raja Jahangir Anwar has constituted a 16-member Smog Monitoring and Control Committee to prevent and monitor air pollution in Faisalabad Division.

The commissioner himself will chair the committee, which will function actively from October 2025 to January 2026.

As per the official notification, the committee comprises Deputy Commissioner, CPO, CTO, DG FDA, Director Environment, MD WASA, DG PHAA, Chief Officer Metropolitan Corporation, and representatives from the departments of Industry and Agriculture.

Academic experts, including the heads of environmental sciences at Government College University Faisalabad and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, along with a representative from the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce, are also included.

The committee will monitor the Air Quality Index, identify pollution hotspots, and implement SOPs against smoke-emitting vehicles, industrial violations, and stubble or waste burning.

It will also promote public awareness, ensure cleanliness drives, and review analytical reports on smog.

Meetings will be held twice a week, with progress reports submitted to the Commissioner.

Presiding over a meeting at his office, Commissioner Anwar also directed installation of air purifiers in shopping malls and commercial plazas and strict compliance with smog SOPs. He was briefed that over 1,000 industrial units had been inspected, leading to fines worth Rs3.3 million, while 900 brick kilns were checked and eight fined Rs0.4 million. Several boilers were sealed for violations.

He further instructed the Environment Department to launch an Air Quality Forecasting System, install dust nets at construction sites, and ensure water sprinkling on roads.

Heavy fines will also be imposed on smoke-emitting vehicles, and "smog guns" will be deployed during peak season.

The commissioner emphasised coordinated efforts between Environment, Transport, Local Government, Health, and Industries departments, urging that "all possible measures must be taken to curb smog and protect public health."