Punjab uses clean air program with AI systems at the center of forecasting, enforcement and public response
Anti-smog gun. Photo: AGENCE ANADOLU
LAHORE:
Lahore, once celebrated as Pakistan’s ‘city of gardens’, now suffocates each winter under a gray pall of smog – its skies thick with toxic haze have become the city’s emblem.
Every November, as the monsoon fades, a choking layer of smoke and dust engulfs Lahore, the Indian capital New Delhi, and much of northern South Asia.
The combination of crop burning, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions is bringing air pollution to deadly levels, forcing authorities to close schools, businesses and highways.
This winter, as air quality plummets again, the government of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, is banking on an unconventional ally to fight back: artificial intelligence.
Officials say they are rolling out one of the most technologically advanced air purification programs in the region, with AI systems at the center of forecasting, enforcement and public response.
According to Punjab Environment Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, some 100 AI-powered air quality monitoring stations have been established across Punjab, home to nearly 130 million people.
These smart stations continuously analyze pollution data using machine learning algorithms to predict increases in air quality before they occur. The information feeds into a 24-hour “smog war room,” a real-time climate intelligence center integrating satellite feeds, ground sensors and international databases.
Aurangzeb told Anadolu that in major industrial and urban centers, 8,500 cameras, drones and thermal sensors are linked to this AI dashboard, tracking emissions from factories and brick kilns. “Each emission source is geolocated, QR-coded and algorithmically assessed for compliance,” she said.
From smoke to smart data
Punjab has also created a specialized Environment Protection Force (EPF) digitally connected to the AI command center. When sensors detect a spike in emissions, nearby EPF units receive automatic alerts and are dispatched with drones and smart devices to check for violations and seal polluting sites.
Another innovation is the deployment of AI-guided smog guns in Lahore, programmed to automatically activate when particle levels exceed safety limits.
Initial pilot tests showed a 70% improvement in air quality in Lahore’s Kahna area within a few hours of operation, Aurangzeb said.
Citizens are also part of the digital ecosystem. Through the AQI Punjab app, Green Punjab app and helpline 1373, residents can report sources of pollution directly. The system categorizes complaints and automatically assigns them – with a reported closure rate of 96%. Using satellite data from NASA and Pakistan’s SUPARCO space agency, the AI network also detects crop fires in real time and cross-references them with agricultural loan databases to target law enforcement.
According to the government, the system has helped reduce stubble burning by 65% in a year, while in Punjab’s industrial belt, 95% of factories now operate under emission control systems.
“No miracle solution” against smog
But even as AI is transforming law enforcement, experts warn that technology alone cannot solve Pakistan’s deep-rooted pollution crisis.
Air pollution kills around 128,000 Pakistanis every year, according to Fair Finance Pakistan. Analysts say real progress requires cleaner fuels, modern refineries and abandoning outdated industrial practices.
Imran Saqib Khalid, a climate governance expert in Islamabad, said Lahore’s smog cannot be fixed without addressing its primary sources.
“Vehicle emissions contribute significantly to air pollution in Lahore, which can be addressed through the use of high-quality fuels and an improved public transport system,” he told Anadolu.
Pakistan, he added, does not have modern refineries capable of producing cleaner fuel. “Even though we have started importing better quality fuel, it is not enough to meet our needs. »
Khalid also pointed to the country’s thousands of brick kilns, many of which burn low-quality coal or even old tires. “Even so-called ‘zigzag technology’ kilns do not meet national environmental standards due to poor fuel quality,” he said, adding that zigzag cooking, while effective in theory, “cannot deliver results without fuel reform.”
“Air pollution is a complex problem but it has been addressed elsewhere in the world. It will take time and effort – there is no silver bullet,” he said. “This cannot be done through surface-level measures, such as smog cannons and smog towers.”
Environmentalists acknowledge that the use of AI in Punjab marks a new seriousness in the fight against smog, but they say lasting improvements require systemic reforms.
Yasir Hussain, a Karachi-based environmentalist, said the government’s approach this year shows more coordination than previous efforts but still lacks long-term impact.
“Artificial rain and smog guns do not have a permanent or lasting effect,” he said. “Within an hour, pollution levels return as much of the gases and particles come from vehicles, industrial units, brick kilns and stubble burning.”
He believes the electric vehicle policy introduced this year could make a difference over time. “This government has taken some steps to alleviate smog, but there is still a long way to go,” he added.
