PSCA detects 2,419 environmental violations in a week

LAHORE – The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has detected 2,419 environmental violations across the province in the past seven days as part of its technology-driven crackdown on smog and air pollution under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s clean and healthy Punjab initiative. A PSCA spokesperson said the violations resulted in 1,236 fines and 796 warnings, with surveillance cameras, drones and coordinated action helping authorities identify pollution sources. The authority detected 1,280 smoke-emitting vehicles and issued e-challans. Another 1,238 vehicles transporting construction materials without protective tarpaulins were identified, with 639 fined and 469 issued warnings. Authorities also recorded 129 smoke-emission violations at barbecue points and chimneys, issuing 121 warnings. Of 33 incidents involving brick kilns, 21 were referred to relevant departments. Nineteen of 21 industrial pollution cases were also forwarded for action. Six incidents of crop-residue burning were detected, resulting in one case being registered and four referred to the relevant departments.
The spokesperson said technology-based monitoring was strengthening enforcement and helping protect public health. Citizens were urged to report smoke-emitting vehicles, crop-residue burning and other pollution-related violations through Police Emergency Helpline 15.