Lahore: The Punjab government has launched a comprehensive crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles across the province in a decisive move to tackle the worsening threat of smog.
Punjab’s Director General of Environment, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, announced a province-wide crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles to address rising smog levels. Effective immediately, traffic police will remove vehicles lacking valid fitness certificates from roads and tackle congestion at busy hotspots.
Dr. Sheikh ordered arrests and criminal cases for those burning garbage, a major smog contributor. The initiative builds on Punjab’s ongoing anti-smog efforts, with Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb noting that nine departments are actively monitoring brick kilns, deploying smog guns, air quality monitors, and machinery. “For the first time, we’re using AQI forecasting for operations,” she said.
CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz ‘s Smog less Punjab vision , for the first time in Punjab’s history, air quality forecasting has been used to guide timely operations under an all-of-government strategy, keeping AQI levels under control as forecasted Alhamdulillah.
With modern technology,… pic.twitter.com/AN95rl5BXy
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) October 19, 2025
The crackdown follows a successful anti-smog gun operation in Lahore’s Kahna area, reducing air pollution by 70%. Punjab’s comprehensive strategy aims to protect public health during the winter smog season.
Read: Punjab Launches Anti-Smog Gun in Lahore, Cuts Air Pollution by 70%
These measures signal Punjab’s commitment to cleaner air, addressing health and environmental risks. Effective enforcement could set a regional precedent.