LAHORE: A dangerous blanket of smog covered much of Punjab on Thursday, with air quality reaching hazardous levels in multiple major cities and posing a severe threat to public health. While Lahore remained the epicentre of the crisis, international monitoring platform IQAir reported alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) readings across the province, including 469 in Bahawalpur, 436 in Faisalabad, 308 in Multan and 226 in Sialkot.
Lahore — ranked the world’s second most polluted city on Thursday evening — saw extreme and erratic AQI fluctuations throughout the day. The city’s pollution level spiked to a life-threatening 547 at 2am before dropping to 197 at 7am and then rising again to 366 by 9am. The volatility underscored the persistence of the smog emergency, which continues to disrupt daily life and endanger millions.
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Officials and environmental experts attributed the worsening smog to widespread violations of mandatory smog SOPs at development and construction sites. Despite the Rs137 billion Lahore Development Plan, on-ground inspections at Chauburji, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Defence Road and Model Town revealed almost no compliance with EPA guidelines. Basic measures such as green netting and regular water sprinkling were ignored, allowing dust and toxic particles to intensify already hazardous conditions.
In response, Punjab’s Environmental Protection Department and Police launched a vigorous crackdown. EPA spokesperson Sajid Bashir said 2,000 delivery challans had been issued in just four days, with enforcement against vehicles lacking green stickers being scaled up. Repeat offenders now face double fines, while a third violation can lead to vehicle impoundment. Police also reported 23 new cases and multiple arrests within 24 hours.
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Authorities imposed more than Rs1.35 million in fines on 556 individuals involved in crop residue burning, operating smoke-emitting vehicles and violating industrial and brick kiln regulations. The police added that since the start of the anti-smog campaign, 2,749 cases have been registered, 2,422 people arrested and fines exceeding Rs225.7 million imposed. Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar ordered all units to intensify enforcement across highways, industrial zones and agricultural areas with a strict zero-tolerance policy.