LAHORE:
The Punjab Environment Department has ordered the creation of environmental buffer zones around industrial areas in the province to reduce pollution and improve public health.
As per the guidelines issued by the Director General of Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 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 was launched under the Punjab Environment Protection Act, 1997.
Officials say industrial pollution is emerging as a growing threat to public health, particularly in densely populated urban centers where air quality continues to deteriorate due to factory emissions, vehicle smoke and uncontrolled commercial activities.
The ministry warned that strict action would be taken against industries and institutions that violate environmental regulations.
He also directed industrial units to ensure large-scale plantation drives in their premises and surrounding areas under the new policy.
Officials said institutions that failed to comply with mandatory tree planting would face legal action, while unauthorized felling of trees was prohibited.
The government also announced measures against encroachments or damage to green belts established around industrial areas.
Additionally, organizations that fail to meet planting targets or environmental compliance requirements will be held accountable under environmental laws.
EPA officials have directed the field teams to conduct inspections and ensure strict implementation of the guidelines across Punjab.
To improve monitoring and surveillance, the GIS department was given the responsibility of mapping industrial areas and identifying locations requiring immediate environmental intervention.
Officials say the move aims not only to improve environmental conditions, but also to create a sustainable balance between industrial expansion and protection of public health.
The move comes as the Punjab government expands its province-wide anti-pollution campaign in response to ongoing concerns over air quality, particularly in Lahore, which often ranks among the world’s most polluted cities in winter.
The EPA had previously accelerated its efforts to establish plastic-free zones in major shopping centers. The agency had announced that plastic bags with a thickness of less than 75 microns were banned as part of the fight against plastic pollution.
According to official data, the Punjab EPA conducted 3,612 inspections in the first four months of the current year.
It confiscated over 937,000 kilograms of plastic bags, issued 189 notices and imposed fines amounting to Rs3 million.
The authorities also sealed 26 premises and registered seven FIRs against the violators.
The department has simultaneously stepped up action against vehicle emissions, another major contributor to urban air pollution.
The EPA recently established a monitoring office within the Safe Cities Authority to identify smoke-emitting vehicles through monitoring systems and issue electronic challans to violators. During the current month, fines exceeding Rs 1 million were imposed on 211 vehicles for non-compliance with emission norms.
As per the latest readings, Lahore recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 83 on Tuesday evening, putting it in the moderate category, while Karachi recorded an AQI of 90. Riyadh tops the global pollution rankings with an AQI of 153, followed by Kathmandu and Dhaka.
Officials say industrial buffer zones, combined with strong enforcement measures, should contribute to long-term environmental improvements across the province.
