Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 215 on Friday, showing improvement compared to previous weeks, according to provincial monitoring data.
Authorities attributed the decline to enforcement measures such as vehicular emission checks, industrial monitoring, and action against non-compliant brick kilns.
The Punjab government said field monitoring had been intensified. Following directives from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a zero-tolerance approach towards smog-related violations should be enforced.
Authorities advised residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure and use protective masks.
Read: Lahore air quality improves as AQI drops to 181
AQI levels fluctuated earlier in December, with Lahore recording an average of 288, making it one of the most polluted cities globally. Stagnant winter conditions and transboundary pollution trapped particulate matter over the province, and some stations reported AQI surges up to 300, placing the city in the ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘hazardous’ range. Local emissions, northwesterly winds, and slow dispersion contributed to the deterioration.
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said short-, medium-, and long-term strategies are being developed to address air pollution and stressed that public cooperation is essential for sustained improvement.
Separately, the Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced that all environmental approvals, laboratory certifications, and protection orders must now be issued exclusively through a digital platform.
EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said that environmental approvals under Section 12, which require prior clearance for industries and development projects, and enforcement actions under Section 16, which allow protection orders against polluting or non-compliant entities, will now be processed through the e-FOAS digital system. Laboratory certifications and environmental recommendations linked to import licences will also be handled exclusively online.
Earlier, Sheikh said the department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward vehicles contributing to hazardous air pollution, warning that violators could face on-the-spot confiscation instead of fines.
The decision comes as Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, and other major cities continue to experience thick smog, with AQI readings frequently reaching hazardous levels.
Read More: Lahore once again ranks world’s most polluted city with average AQI of 288
According to the EPD, the move is intended to create a paperless regulatory framework and improve record management. Approvals or protection orders issued outside the digital system will be considered invalid and may result in action against the responsible officers.
Each document issued through the platform will carry a unique reference number and QR code, the department said. Commissioners, deputy commissioners, industrial units, chambers of commerce, and EPA-certified laboratories have been directed to comply with the new system. The notification takes immediate effect.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneWeb DeskRead More
