LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday shut 322 car wash stations down and sealed 159 others in a grand operation across Punjab aimed at water conservation.

The EPA launched the operation following the expiration of the deadline given to car wash stations’ owners for installation of mandatory water recycling systems.

A total of 3,525 car wash stations had been instructed to install these systems by February 28, 2025, in an effort to prevent water wastage.

So far, the EPA has issued notices to 2,557 car wash stations, shut down 322, and sealed 159 others for non-compliance.

Additionally, fines exceeding Rs600,000 have been imposed on violators.

As a result of this stern action by the Punjab government, 646 car wash stations have successfully installed water recycling systems on their premises.

The directive for enforcement was initially issued on February 12, 2025, by EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, which included a penalty of Rs100,000 for the petrol pumps, having car wash stations on their premises, failing to comply with the order.

Earlier, a ban had also been placed on washing vehicles at home, with fines on violations.

According to the Meteorological Department, Punjab received 42 percent below average rainfall from September 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, making water conservation a critical necessity.

In this context, the Lahore High Court issued several directives for efficient use of water.

Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has appealed to the public to actively participate in the water conservation campaign to address challenges like water scarcity and climate change.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2025