PESHAWAR: The Peshawar division commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud has directed the officials to prepare a plan for converting all the brick kilns in the provincial capital into zigzag technology to control the environmental pollution.

He issued the directives while chairing a meeting here on Tuesday, according to a statement.

Mr Mehsud also directed the officials to submit a report to this effect within a week. The meeting was attended by Peshawar deputy commissioner Shafiullah Khan and officials of Environmental Protection Agency.

The conversion of brick kilns into zigzag technology is being carried out in line with the provincial government’s directives to control air pollution in the provincial capital during winter.

The meeting was informed that about 7,000 brick kilns in Punjab had been converted into the environmental-friendly technology, which had greatly contributed to reducing air pollution.

The officials said only two brick kilns in KP had been put on zigzag technology, which had yielded positive outcomes. The meeting was told that currently brick kiln owners were using plastic, coal, wood and rubber to fire their furnaces, which was increasing emissions and damaging public health.

The commissioner directed the deputy commissioner to hold meetings with the enjoinment department, industries and brick kiln owners in order to implement the zigzag technology effectively.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2022