Faisalabad AQI hits hazardous 600; sale of uncovered construction material banned

Authorities in Faisalabad division have ordered an immediate halt to the sale of uncovered construction material after the city's Air Quality Index reached 600 on Wednesday, which falls in the hazardous category.

Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh gave the directions while chairing a meeting on measures to control air pollution and smog. He said "strict action was necessary to prevent air pollution and smog", according to The Express Tribune. Shops found selling uncovered construction material will be sealed.

The meeting also set rules for other sources of dust and smoke. Soil and sand kept outside plant nurseries for sale must be covered, and construction material at ongoing development projects must stay properly covered. Departments were told to inspect project sites.

Barbecue outlets must have suction hoods installed, and officials are to verify this. Establishments operating without the required equipment will be closed. Special night inspection teams are to be formed to monitor compliance and act against violators.

Relevant departments were told to arrange regular water sprinkling on roads. The Agriculture and Revenue departments must monitor fields continuously and prevent the burning of crop residue.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) was directed to seal industrial units that release toxic smoke or break environmental standard operating procedures, with round-the-clock monitoring.

Deputy Director Environment Tahir Abbas Syial briefed the meeting on enforcement. He named industrial activity as a major source of pollution contributing to smog. The EPA has stepped up checks on industrial units, brick kilns, construction sites, vehicle emissions, open waste burning, crop residue burning, suction hoods and single-use plastics.

Over the past six weeks, the EPA conducted 812 inspections of industrial units and found 79 violations, with fines totalling Rs6.8 million. Five units were sealed, an FIR was registered against one unit and another was demolished. It issued 375 seven-day notices and obtained camera access to 267 units. Of 839 brick kiln inspections, 56 violations were detected.