NAROWAL: As many as 20 farmers have been fined a total of Rs300,000 between Oct 1 and Nov 12 for stubble burning in Sialkot district.

This was said by Sialkot Agriculture Deputy Director (extension) Sajjad Haider while giving a briefing about the measures taken to control smog.

He said that actions against stubble burning were carried out in Daska, Pasrur, and Sambrial tehsils, while no report of such incidents was received from the Sialkot tehsil.

He said that fines amounting to Rs120,000 in Daska, Rs150,000 in Pasrur, and Rs30,000 in Sambrial were imposed during this period.

He said that special announcements were made in local mosques, urging the farmers to avoid burning stubble. A total of 1,266 mosques across the district made these announcements, he added.

The deputy director added that a fine of Rs15,000 per acre was being imposed for stubble burning for the first time, while Rs30,000 per acre was imposed for repeated violations. In case of continued non-compliance, FIRs could be registered and arrests could also be made, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025