Faisalabad Steps Up Anti-Smog Measures with New Monitoring Committee and Stricter Enforcement
FAISALABAD: In a bid to combat worsening air pollution and climate-related health risks, Commissioner Faisalabad Raja Jahangir Anwar has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to curb smog across the division. The plan combines stronger enforcement actions with institutional coordination to protect public health and the environment.
Reviewing ongoing measures, the Commissioner directed the installation of air purifiers in shopping malls and commercial plazas, strict use of dust nets at construction sites, and regular water sprinkling on roads to control dust. He emphasized the deployment of smog guns and heavy penalties on smoke-emitting vehicles. Deputy Director Environment Protection Usman Azhar reported that inspections of more than 1,000 industrial units had led to fines worth Rs. 3.3 million, while violations at brick kilns resulted in Rs. 400,000 in penalties.
To ensure long-term monitoring, a 16-member Smog Monitoring and Control Committee has been established under the chairmanship of the Commissioner. The committee includes representatives from district administration, police, FDA, WASA, PHA, and industry and agriculture departments, alongside experts from GCUF, UAF, and the Chamber of Commerce.
The committee’s mandate covers Air Quality Index monitoring, hotspot identification, SOP enforcement against industrial and vehicular emissions, and stubble burning control. It will also lead public awareness campaigns and review analytical reports on smog. The body is scheduled to meet twice a week between October and January, when smog is most severe, and submit implementation updates.
Officials stressed that curbing smog is not only an environmental necessity but also a climate resilience measure, as unchecked emissions exacerbate greenhouse gases, health crises, and economic losses. Effective inter-departmental coordination, transparency, and public participation are considered key to tackling one of Punjab’s most pressing environmental challenges.
