Punjab Police have intensified their operations against environmental offenders, filing 51 fresh cases as part of their campaign to combat smog and reduce air pollution across the province, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
The latest round of enforcement, carried out in Lahore and other districts over the past 24 hours, led to the arrest of violators and fines exceeding Rs1.067 million issued to 491 people. Another 38 individuals were cautioned for breaching environmental rules.
Providing a detailed breakdown, the spokesperson said the crackdown focused on key contributors to pollution. A total of 209 smoke-emitting vehicles were targeted, along with 101 instances of stubble burning and 7 violations related to brick kilns.
The ongoing operation forms part of a broader initiative that has continued throughout the year.
According to the spokesperson, police have registered 2,275 cases since January and arrested 2,027 offenders. Financial penalties have surpassed Rs227.1m, imposed on 87,780 people, while 11,268 others have received warnings.
The yearly statistics highlight the severity of the issue, including 52,872 violations linked to smoke-emitting vehicles, 3,365 related to brick kilns, 1,725 involving industrial activity and 1,166 cases of crop residue burning.
Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar has ordered authorities to further accelerate the anti-smog campaign.
He reiterated a strict zero-tolerance policy and instructed officers to take immediate action against anyone violating the standard operating procedures designed to reduce smog. The operations will be intensified on highways, in industrial zones, on agricultural fields and at other major pollution sources.