Islamabad: The shutdown of all brick kilns and companies that release smoke is one of the limitations enforced by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to combat air pollution and smog.
The Excise Department, the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA), and Assistant Commissioners met with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon to discuss stringent steps to reduce emissions around the city.
After the meeting, it was decided that factories producing smoke would be temporarily shut down, while all brick kilns would remain closed until further notice. Additionally, vehicles emitting smoke are now banned from the roads within the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Additionally, burning trash, leaves, and other stuff outdoors is forbidden, and environmentally damaging activities will be restricted. The Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) has implemented these regulations through routine inspections.
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During a recent ITA-led inspection, several vehicles at the vegetable market were checked for emissions. Nine cars were penalized for excessive smoke emissions, and warning letters were issued to 27 others. Daily inspections are underway to ensure vehicles across the city meet emission standards.
DC Irfan Memon highlighted that these actions are preventive measures to manage air pollution levels before they lead to severe smog conditions, aiming to create a cleaner, healthier environment for residents.
Due to rising smog levels, the Lahore district administration has banned outdoor activities.
Outdoor activities will be suspended from November 11 to 17. All sports, exhibitions, events, and outdoor dining are on hold; however, religious gatherings are exempt. Shops, markets, and malls must close by 8 PM, except for essential services like medical stores, labs, petrol pumps, and grocery stores, according to a notification from DC Lahore.
A Punjab police spokesperson stated that in the past 24 hours, 14 people were arrested, and 91 FIRs were filed for non-compliance with SOPs. Large department stores may keep only grocery and medical sections open.
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In addition to warning 33 others, 458 people received fines totaling 8.28 lakh rupees.
Authorities noted 38 cases of crop residue burning, 359 instances of smoke-emitting vehicles, 3 violations in industrial activities, 27 related to brick kilns, and 24 other infractions. Overall, 2,161 people have been arrested, with 2,627 cases filed for breaches of government SOPs.