Pencap EPA: Tuğla Ocakları, Sanayi ve Plastikte Denetimler Geriledi

Brick kilns, industrial units, prohibited plastic: Punjab Environment Protection Agency report shows decline in site inspections

LAHORE: According to an enforcement comparison study prepared by the Punjab Environment Protection Agency ( EPA) Strategy and Analysis Wing, 12,295 sites and units were inspected in three major sectors -- brick kilns, industrial units and prohibited plastic -- between July 21 and Aug 21, 2026 compared with 14,048 during the same period in the preceding year. EPA claimed on Monday to have inspected 12,295 sites and units during the past month and imposed total Rs35.35 million fine on violations in three major sectors -- brick kilns, industrial units and prohibited plastic. The data shows that while overall inspections declined, enforcement was increasingly directed towards major sources of air pollution, particularly construction-related dust and brick kilns, ahead of the winter smog season. The most significant increase was recorded in action against fugitive dust. Visits to under-construction sites increased from 44 to 228, while notices rose from 26 to 135. The number of sealed sites increased from six to 45, while mist sprinklers were installed at 30 sites compared with the previous 11. Enforcement against brick kilns also increased in terms of inspections and demolitions. Enforcement against water pollution also declines between July 21 and Aug 21 as compared to previous year EPA teams visited 5,223 kilns, compared with 4,796, previously, while 79 kilns were demolished against 57. However, sealing operations declined from 74 to 29 and FIRs from 133 to 45. Fines also fell from Rs6.7 million to Rs5.15 million. The industrial sector presented a mixed picture, where inspections declined from 2,638 to 2,392, but demolitions increased from 17 to 26. As many as 96 industrial units were sealed during both periods, while FIRs fell from 13 to nine. Fines declined from Rs16.162m to Rs9.572m. Enforcement against prohibited plastic recorded a sharper decline. Inspections fell from 6,492 to 4,407, while confiscation of prohibited plastic declined from 48,798kg to 37,433kg. FIRs dropped from 15 to five and sealed premises from 1,385 to 407. Fines in the plastic sector also fell sharply, from Rs77.125 million to Rs20.632 million. Enforcement against water pollution also declined as visits fell from 78 to 45. However, notices increased from three to six and two premises were sealed, compared with none, previously. Seven wastewater treatment plants were reportedly installed during the latest period against 49 in the preceding period. Overall fines imposed in the brick kiln, industrial and plastic sectors fell from nearly Rs100m to Rs35.35m, representing a 65pc decline. The decline in fines was accompanied by increased physical enforcement on some key pollution sources. In the industrial sector, for instance, fines fell by around 41pc, while demolitions increased by more than 50pc. Similarly, brick kiln inspections increased by nearly 9pc and demolitions by almost 39pc, despite lower fines. Environment Protection and Climate Change Department Secretary Silwat Saeed stressed the need for enforcement that produces measurable environmental improvement, rather than focusing merely on the number of notices, FIRs or fines. EPA DG Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh emphasised the need to closely examine sectors where enforcement activity has declined. Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026