The Punjab Police’s recent anti-smog crackdown, resulting in the registration of 26 cases and the arrest of multiple violators across districts like Lahore, marks a critical and welcome escalation in the fight against hazardous air pollution. The statistics from the past 24 hours alone—fines exceeding Rs. 1.055 million imposed on 464 individuals and operations addressing 52 cases of crop residue burning, 145 cases of vehicular smoke, 12 brick kiln violations, and five industrial transgressions—underscore the pervasive nature of the problem and the urgent necessity of this robust enforcement.

Smog isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a public health crisis. Lahore frequently tops global lists for the worst air quality, turning the simple act of breathing into a gamble with one’s health. The thick, grey haze that blankets the province during the winter months is a potent cocktail of suspended particulate matter (PM2.5), causing respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and premature death. While awareness campaigns are vital, the sheer scale of the environmental degradation, driven by negligence and profit, demands punitive action. The police’s intervention, directed by the Inspector General of Police Punjab to intensify the crackdown on highways, industrial areas, and agricultural lands, sends an unequivocal message: environmental crime is crime.
For too long, environmental regulations have been treated as advisory. The key strength of the current police action is its focus on deterrence through immediate, tangible consequences. Fines, while significant, are only part of the solution; the registration of formal cases and subsequent arrests introduce a level of accountability that simple warnings often lack. This aggressive stance is particularly crucial in tackling persistent, large-scale polluters like unconverted brick kilns and industries that skirt regulations to cut costs, effectively externalizing their pollution onto the public.
However, the high number of crop residue burning violations highlights a challenge requiring a more nuanced, multi-pronged approach. While the crackdown is necessary to stop immediate burning, the government must simultaneously scale up accessible and affordable alternatives for farmers, such as machinery for incorporating residue back into the soil or procurement of biomass for energy production. Enforcement, in this sector, must be paired with subsidies and technological support to ensure a sustainable shift in agricultural practices.
The success of this initiative hinges on its sustained intensity. This cannot be a seasonal, reactive measure. The crackdown must be an ongoing, institutionalized effort, backed by inter-departmental cooperation involving the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Transport Department. The police’s role in enforcing existing laws is commendable, but the EPD must provide the technical expertise for monitoring and identifying the worst polluters.
Ultimately, the fight for clean air is a fight for the future of Punjab. The police have drawn a clear line in the smog, and the public must support this zero-tolerance policy. It is time for every citizen, industry, and farmer to recognize their stake in the air we share. The breath we take tomorrow depends on the action we take today. The Punjab government must ensure this momentum is not lost. Clean air is a right, not a privilege.