LAHORE: A dense cloud of toxic smog blanketed Punjab on Thursday, pushing AQI to hazardous levels across major cities and posing a grave health risk to millions. While Lahore has long been the centre of Pakistan’s smog crisis, fresh data suggested the problem has intensified province-wide.
According to early morning readings from global air quality monitor IQAir, Bahawalpur posted a staggering Air Quality Index (AQI) of 469 at 8am — categorised as hazardous. Faisalabad followed with 436 at 9am, while Multan and Sialkot recorded severely polluted levels at 308 and 226, respectively.
Lahore, ranked the world’s second most polluted city by Thursday evening, experienced dramatic AQI fluctuations throughout the day. The city hit an alarming peak of 547 at 2am, improved to 197 by 7am, and worsened again to 366 by 9am — reflecting what officials described as the “persistent and volatile” nature of the smog emergency.
Environmental experts attributed the worsening situation to widespread non-compliance with mandatory smog-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at development and construction sites. Despite a Rs137 billion Lahore Development Plan, on-ground inspections at Chauburji, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Defence Road and Model Town showed minimal adherence to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. Basic measures such as installing green nets and carrying out regular water sprinkling were largely absent, allowing construction dust and particulate matter to accumulate in the air.
Experts warned that unchecked dust emissions from construction, combined with seasonal crop burning, industrial pollution and vehicular emissions, were significantly compounding the public health threat.
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In response, Punjab’s Environmental Protection Department and police launched a major enforcement drive. EPA spokesperson Sajid Bashir said a crackdown — aided by the Safe City Authority — had intensified against vehicles operating without mandatory green stickers. “Two thousand delivery challans were issued in just four days, and action will be further intensified,” he said, adding that second-time violators would face double fines, while third-time offenders risked vehicle impoundment.
Rs1.35m fine imposed on 556 individuals for smog-related offences. https://t.co/ob6hp2xQ65
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 21, 2025
Punjab police reported 23 cases and multiple arrests across districts in the last 24 hours. Authorities imposed fines exceeding Rs1.35 million on 556 offenders for crop residue burning, emissions from vehicles, and violations at industrial units and brick kilns.
Providing an annual tally, police said 2,749 cases had been registered and 2,422 arrests made since the start of the anti-smog campaign, with cumulative fines surpassing Rs225.7m.
Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar directed all field officers to adopt a “zero-tolerance” approach, particularly in industrial, agricultural and high-traffic zones, as authorities brace for continued smog in the weeks ahead.
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