As 2025 draws to a close, Punjab’s environmental landscape reflects a complex mix of political ambitions, enforcement deficiencies and persistent threats to public health driven by air pollution and worsening smog. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), under increasing pressure from courts, civil society and international climate monitors, struggled throughout the year to balance regulatory responsibility with industrial and municipal pressure. The province went into 2025 with promises of aggressive reforms, digitized surveillance, stricter emissions tracking and coordinated anti-smog plans. Yet, despite policy announcements, the province continued to experience hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) episodes, particularly in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura. Annual AQI trends remained i "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy" range for more than half of the year, which underlines the scale of the environmental crisis. Throughout the previous winter, Lahore again ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. EPD’s seasonal anti-smog measures – closing polluting brick kilns, industrial inspections, dust control and traffic management plans brought only brief improvements. Many furnaces secretly resumed traditional firing methods, while small industrial units continued to operate without emission filters. EPD officials admitted it "compliance remained inconsistent due to limited manpower," a recurring problem in the department’s enforcement capacity. One of the most contentious issues in 2025 was construction-related pollution. Several large development projects were flagged for generating too much dust and violating environmental guidelines. sites were issued notices and fines, but civil society organizations argued that the enforcement was symbolic rather than remedial. Lahore residents complained of uncontrolled dust clouds across major corridors including Ferozepur Road, Ring Road localities and central business districts.
Smog, scrutiny and slow progress
