LAHORE: The district administration registered six cases and sealed five iron foundries during the anti-smog operation on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali had given directions to the assistant commissioners of Shalimar and Model Town to ensure surveillance of the industrial units in their respective areas. Besides sealing five units, the teams imposed fines on two units and as many brick kilns.

Mr Ali said a Rs270,000 fine was imposed on two iron foundries for causing pollution and added that action would be taken against the industrial units for using bad quality fuel and burning old tyres for fuel. He said efforts were also being made to take action against the brick kilns and vehicles for emitting smoke.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Forty-eight people were arrested for causing smog in the division while 95 cases were registered, 33 business centres were sealed and Rs4.5m fine was recovered from the violators of the smog standard operating procedures (SOPs) during an anti-smog operation so far this season.

As many as 18 stone crushers were closed, notices were issued to 115 others, 195 vehicles were stopped from running and 1,239 were issued challans. These details were shared in an online meeting presided over by Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha. He said farmers in all four districts should take oath not to burn crop residue.

MUZAFFARGARH: The district administration arrested owners of seven brick kilns, sealed 17 kilns and imposed Rs1.75m fine on others for causing pollution.

Presiding over a meeting of the officers concerned, DC retired Capt Samiullah Farooq said action would be taken against brick kilns, industries and vehicles causing pollution, especially smog, in the district. He said cases should be registered against those burning crop residue.

The traffic police officers said 1,542 vehicles were issued tickets and a fine of Rs462,000 had been imposed on them.

BAHAWALPUR: A rally to create awareness on the increasing smog was taken out from the Commissioner’s Office. It was led by Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar and Deputy Commissioner Parvaiz Zahid.

Published in Dawn, October 23th, 2022