Brick prices have been increased by 33 percent in Muzaffargarh district after the Punjab government issued a notification for the closure of brick kilns for more than two months to combat smog. According to the notification issued by Punjab’s Environment Department, brick kilns will remain close from October 21 to December 31. The government has adopted the preventive measure to mitigate the factors behind smog and to increase awareness, said the notification. Following the closure, a tractor-trolley with 3,000 bricks, which was earlier available at Rs 15,000, is now being sold at Rs 20,000. Brick kilns owners said that the move would cause colossal monetary losses not only to them but also to kiln workers. Mohammad Yousaf, a brick kiln owner, said that prices had been increased as a lot of brick kilns in Muzaffargarh were closed and rest of them were working partially. He said that government had imposed Section 144 and banned burning of crop stubble, garbage and all those chemicals causing air and environment pollution. Brick kiln workers opposed the move and demanded removal of the ban. Allah Baksh, a brick kiln labourer, said his family would starve due to the closure of brick kilns. He said that the government should provide workers an alternative source of income. Moreover, the Environment Department has banned construction of new brick kilns having BTK technology. However, energy-efficient zig-zag brick kilns will not face closure due to low consumption of coal. Published in Daily Times, September 24th 2018.