Smog, scrutiny and slow progress

Punjab records hazardous air quality in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala

LAHORE:

As 2025 draws to a close, Punjab's environmental landscape reflects a complex mix of policy ambition, enforcement gaps, and persistent public health threats driven by air pollution and worsening smog.

The environment protection department (EPD), under mounting pressure from courts, civil society and international climate monitors, struggled throughout the year to balance regulatory responsibilities with industrial and municipal pressures. The province entered 2025 with promises of aggressive reforms, digitised monitoring, stricter emissions tracking and coordinated anti-smog plans. Yet, despite policy announcements, the province continued to witness hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) episodes, especially in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura. Annual AQI trends remained in the "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy" range for more than half the year, underscoring the scale of the environmental crisis.

Throughout the previous winter, Lahore once again ranked among the world's most polluted cities. The EPD's seasonal anti-smog measures – closure of polluting brick kilns, industrial inspections, dust-control checks and traffic-management plans produced only brief improvements. Many kilns resumed traditional firing methods clandestinely, while small industrial units continued operations without emissions filters. EPD officials admitted that "compliance remained inconsistent due to limited manpower," a recurring issue in the department's enforcement capability.

One of the most contentious issues of 2025 was construction-related pollution. Several large development projects were flagged for generating excessive dust and violating environmental guidelines. sites were issued notices and fined, yet civil society organisations claimed the enforcement was symbolic rather than corrective.

Lahore residents complained of unchecked dust clouds across major corridors, including Ferozepur Road, Ring Road localities and central business districts.