Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews National Desk

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has intensified its enforcement campaign against smog and air pollution across the province, with Lahore recording an approximately 11 percent decline in its average Air Quality Index (AQI) during the first 28 days of October 2026 compared with the corresponding period last year.According to official EPA figures, Lahore's average AQI stood at 181 between October 1 and 28, 2026, compared with 202 during the same period in 2025.

Despite the improvement, air pollution in the provincial capital remains a serious concern as the city enters the seasonal smog period.The data shows that environmental inspections across Punjab increased to 26,494 during the first 28 days of October, compared with 22,388 inspections during the corresponding period last year, representing an increase of approximately 18 percent.

Financial penalties imposed for violations of environmental regulations rose from Rs 54.3 million to Rs 67.9 million, an increase of approximately 25 percent.

Enforcement action also resulted in the sealing of 719 premises during the reporting period, compared with 452 in the corresponding period of 2025, representing an increase of approximately 59 percent.However, the number of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered for environmental violations declined from 462 to 178.

The contrasting trends in inspections, financial penalties, sealing operations and criminal cases indicate a change in the pattern of enforcement measures.

However, the available figures do not explain the reasons for the reduction in FIR registrations or provide details about the types of legal action taken against violators.According to the reported figures, environmental fines imposed across Punjab during the first ten months of 2026 totalled Rs 382 million.

Although Lahore recorded an improvement in its average AQI compared with the previous year, air pollution remains a significant environmental and public health concern.The figures indicate an increase in regulatory inspections and enforcement action across Punjab. However, further evidence would be required to determine the extent to which these measures contributed directly to the improvement in Lahore's air quality.

Lahore | ReNews National Desk

The Punjab government has prepared comprehensive reforms to strengthen electrical safety standards across the province, proposing annual inspections of electricity connections at more than 73,000 industrial, commercial and public buildings to prevent fires, short circuits and electrocution incidents.

The proposed Punjab Electrical Safety (Periodic Inspection and Licensing) Order 2026 aims to identify electrical hazards before accidents occur and ensure the timely correction of unsafe electrical installations.Under the proposed framework, the government plans to expand the existing inspection system from approximately 21,125 locations to more than 73,000 locations across Punjab.

For industrial buildings, the approved electricity load threshold for mandatory inspections would be reduced from 100 kilowatts to connections exceeding 50 kilowatts. Commercial and public buildings with approved loads exceeding 25 kilowatts would also be brought within the inspection framework.

Hospitals, schools, cinemas, hotels, high-rise buildings, commercial plazas and other designated premises would be subject to electrical safety inspections regardless of their approved electricity load.The proposed reforms also include stricter supervision of electrical contractors, mandatory availability of 14 modern electrical testing instruments for licensing and the introduction of a digital verification system for electrical safety certificates.According to the figures provided, Punjab recorded 41,975 fire incidents caused by electrical short circuits between January 2023 and September 2026. During the same period, 48,337 cases involving electric shocks were also reported across the province.

The planned regulatory changes are intended to improve electrical safety compliance in industrial facilities, commercial developments and buildings used by the public through periodic inspections and the early identification of potentially hazardous installations.The proposed inspection regime would also broaden regulatory oversight of electrical installations in the province's building and construction sectors.However, the reforms remain at the proposal stage, and a final implementation date has not been announced.