LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demolished 36 fat-melting units, sealed six and registered cases against their owners across the province.

The action is a part of the crackdown launched to eliminate environmentally hazardous operations.

Illegal fat melting units were processing slaughterhouse waste, animal fats, bones and offal using primitive, non-scientific methods such as open boiling and direct fire.

Such practices, without any pollution control or wastewater treatment systems, would release hazardous toxic gases, contaminating air and water and attracting disease vectors such as flies and rodents.

The EPA Punjab issued an order banning all primitive fat-melting units unless operating through environmentally compliant facilities approved by the agency.

Crackdown launched to improve environmental quality: EPA DG

On June 6, the EPA teams conducted 57 inspections across Punjab, detecting 42 violations.

Thirty-six illegal units were demolished, six were sealed, and two FIRs were registered. A total of 16.67 tonnes of waste was removed in collaboration with sanitation authorities.

Lahore recorded the highest enforcement activity with 12 inspections leading to 11 demolitions and one sealing. Kasur, Khanewal, Multan, Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Rawalpindi, and Sahiwal also witnessed extensive action.

Chiniot emerged as a leading district for sealing and Bahawalnagar registered two FIRs against violators.

Rahim Yar Khan had most waste removal operations with 5.26 tonnes cleared, followed by Toba Tek Singh with 3.8 tonnes, Khanewal with 3.5 tonnes and additional waste removed from multiple other districts.

EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh highlighted that the crackdown was launched to protect public health and improve environmental quality.

“Our teams are using intelligence-led inspections and monitoring systems to identify violators. Operators of illegal fat melting units will face strict legal consequences, including demolitions, sealing, FIRs, and environmental penalties,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026