LAHORE: The Punjab police have registered 51 new cases against environmental violators in the last 24 hours as part of an ongoing campaign to curb smog and reduce air pollution, a spokesperson said on Saturday. The operations, conducted across Lahore and other districts, also resulted in fines of over Rs1.067 million imposed on 491 individuals, while 38 others received warnings.
The crackdown targeted major pollution sources, including 209 smoke-emitting vehicles, 101 incidents of crop residue burning, and seven violations related to brick kilns. Authorities said the recent action forms part of a year-long initiative to enforce environmental regulations and improve air quality.
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Since the start of the year, the police have registered 2,275 cases, arrested 2,027 violators, and imposed fines exceeding Rs227.1 million on 87,780 individuals. Additionally, 11,268 people received warnings for various environmental violations, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem across the province.
According to the police, violations included 52,872 cases of smoke-emitting vehicles, 3,365 cases related to brick kilns, 1,725 industrial violations, and 1,166 incidents of crop residue burning. The crackdown underscores the authorities’ commitment to tackling air pollution through strict enforcement.
Read More: CRACKDOWN ON ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS INTENSIFIES
Punjab IG Dr. Usman Anwar has directed officers to further intensify the anti-smog campaign, emphasising a zero-tolerance policy and immediate action against those violating the standard operating procedures. Operations are to be strengthened on highways, industrial zones, agricultural lands, and other key areas contributing to poor air quality.