According to the Pakistan Observer, tire pyrolysis plants in Lahore continue to operate despite previous crackdowns by local authorities. These plants, known for their toxic emissions, have been identified as a major contributor to smog in the provincial capital.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had previously sealed these facilities due to their hazardous emissions, yet plant owners reportedly resumed operations by removing seals and allegedly colluding with officials. In October 2021, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) banned industries contributing to smog, including brick kilns, furnace mills, and pyrolysis plants. Following this directive, enforcement squads were formed, comprising officials from the EPA, Water and Sanitation Agency, and Municipal Corporation Lahore, to take strict action against polluters.

Authorities initially reported success, with 18 pyrolysis plants in Mehmood Booti demolished under the supervision of Shalimar Town Assistant Commissioner Tehniyat Bukhari. However, Pakistan Observer reports that many of these plants have since restarted operations. Observations from the site suggest that while authorities filmed and photographed their enforcement actions, key components such as reactors, catalytic chambers, and cooling tubes remained intact, allowing owners to resume operations with minor repairs.

Punjab Secretary for Environment, Syed Mubasher Hussain, stated that enforcement efforts were conducted in collaboration with the Commissioner’s office and maintained that it would be impossible to restart operations if the plants had been properly demolished.

The situation raises concerns about enforcement effectiveness and highlights the ongoing challenges in controlling industrial pollution in Lahore.

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