LAHORE:
The Punjab Environment Department has ordered the establishment of environmental buffer zones around industrial areas across the province to reduce pollution and improve public health.
As per directives issued by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, all industrial areas and zones will now be required to develop green buffer belts around their premises to help minimize the effects of smoke, toxic gases and other harmful emissions produced by factories.
The initiative has been launched under the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997.
According to officials, industrial pollution has emerged as a growing threat to public health, especially in densely populated urban centers where air quality continues to deteriorate due to factory emissions, vehicle fumes and uncontrolled commercial activities.
The department warned that strict action would be taken against industries and institutions violating environmental regulations.
It also directed industrial units to ensure large-scale plantation operations within their premises and surrounding areas as part of the new policy.
Officials said institutions that fail to carry out mandatory tree planting will face prosecution, while unauthorized felling of trees has been banned.
The government has also announced action against encroachment or damage to green belts established around industrial zones.
In addition, organizations that do not meet plantation goals or environmental requirements will be held accountable under environmental laws.
EPA officials have directed field teams to conduct inspections and ensure strict implementation of the directives across Punjab.
To improve monitoring and supervision, the GIS department has been assigned the responsibility of mapping industrial areas and identifying locations that require immediate environmental intervention.
Authorities say the move is designed not only to improve environmental conditions, but also to strike a sustainable balance between industrial expansion and protection of public health.
The initiative comes as the Punjab government expands a province-wide anti-pollution campaign in response to persistent concerns over air quality, particularly in Lahore, which is often among the world’s most polluted cities in winter.
The EPA had earlier accelerated efforts to establish plastic-free zones in major commercial centers. The agency had announced that plastic bags thinner than 75 microns were being banned as part of a crackdown on plastic pollution.
According to official data, the Punjab EPA conducted 3,612 inspections during the first four months of the current year.
It confiscated more than 937,000 kg of plastic bags, issued 189 notices and imposed fines of Rs 3 million.
Officials also sealed 26 premises and registered seven FIRs against offenders.
At the same time, the department has stepped up efforts against emissions from vehicles, another major contributor to urban air pollution.
The EPA recently established a monitoring desk at the Safe Cities Authority to identify smoke-emitting vehicles through monitoring systems and issue electronic challenges to violators. During the current month, fines of over Rs 1 crore have been imposed on 211 vehicles for not meeting emission standards.
According to the latest readings, Lahore recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 83 on Tuesday evening, placing it in the moderate category, while Karachi recorded an AQI of 90. Riyadh topped the global pollution ranking with an AQI of 153, followed by Kathmandu and Dhaka.
Officials say the industrial buffer zones, combined with strict enforcement measures, are expected to contribute to long-term environmental improvements across the province.
