The Punjab government has sealed 11 industrial units and demolished two others for violating environmental regulations as part of a province-wide crackdown on air pollution.
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that authorities had also inspected 513 brick kilns across the province during the past 24 hours.
Of these, 24 brick kilns were sealed and six were demolished for failing to comply with environmental standards.
The minister said authorities imposed fines totalling Rs1.3 million on the owners of the brick kilns and registered eight cases over the violations.
Aurangzeb said the provincial government had launched a major operation against illegal industrial units operating in residential areas of Lahore and other parts of Punjab on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing pollution and making the province environmentally clean.
The minister said industries involved in burning electrical wires and plastic were major contributors to air pollution. She warned that toxic gases released through plastic burning could cause respiratory illnesses and even cancer.
Aurangzeb also urged residents to refrain from burning crop stubble and cooperate with authorities in efforts to reduce pollution levels across the province.
