LAHORE: The anti-smog squads of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab have demolished a Mehar Ilyas Re-rolling Industrial Unit due to hazardous smoke emissions.

A spokesperson for the EPA stated that the raid was conducted following directives from Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, who emphasized the need for action against industrial units that have not yet installed emission control systems. She urged the EPA to intensify operations against such establishments.

The demolition occurred after the owner of the unit failed to comply with repeated notices regarding implementation of anti-smog Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the installation of the necessary emission control systems.

Maryam Aurangzeb is actively monitoring the smog situation in Punjab through the anti-smog dashboard, providing daily instructions. She stressed that public safety should not be compromised, the senior minister said.

She warned that those responsible for non-compliance will face strict consequences. She highlighted that if action is taken now, significant improvements could be observed within eight to ten years. Factory owners are urged to implement emission control systems immediately to avoid further punitive measures.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024