LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Saturday submitted a detailed compliance report to the Lahore High Court, outlining sweeping enforcement actions taken against industrial units, brick kilns and commercial establishments identified as major contributors to smog, as part of court-ordered measures to tackle worsening air pollution in the provincial capital.
According to the report, the EPA has demolished 41 industrial units and nine brick kilns found to be operating in violation of environmental regulations. In addition, 81 industrial units, 41 restaurants and five brick kilns have been sealed for failing to meet prescribed environmental standards.
The agency further informed the court that legal proceedings had been initiated against 39 industrial units and 70 brick kiln owners, signalling a tougher approach against repeat and large-scale polluters. As part of punitive measures, fines amounting to Rs100 million were imposed on industrial units, while brick kiln owners were penalised a total of Rs71 million.
The enforcement actions were carried out in compliance with earlier directions issued by the Lahore High Court in the ongoing smog mitigation case, where the court had ordered strict action against institutions responsible for environmental degradation. The judiciary has repeatedly expressed concern over the health and environmental impact of unchecked pollution, particularly during winter months.
The EPA report noted that the Punjab government has also undertaken a range of parallel initiatives to curb smog and reduce its intensity across the province. These include the deployment of anti-smog guns, crackdowns on smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns and restaurants, and the imposition of bans on tree cutting to preserve green cover.
Despite these measures, the scale of the smog crisis remains alarming. More than 20 million people across Punjab were affected by hazardous air quality in 2025, turning winter into a prolonged public health emergency. Lahore emerged as the worst-hit city, with over 600,000 residents seeking medical treatment for illnesses directly linked to smog.
Other major urban centres, including Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala, collectively reported more than 1.8 million smog-related cases, according to health authorities, highlighting the province-wide nature of the crisis.
The case continues to be heard by the Lahore High Court, which is closely monitoring enforcement efforts and has signalled that further action may follow if pollution levels fail to improve or court orders are not fully implemented.
