Punjab’s environment authorities have intensified their pre-smog enforcement campaign as Lahore’s air remained among the world’s worst, a day after the city topped the global pollution ranking with an Air Quality Index of 419. The province’s Environment Protection Agency demolished 197 non-compliant brick kilns, sealed 163 units and registered 162 first information reports during its month-long operation from 28 September to 27 October, while the Punjab Safe Cities Authority is using artificial intelligence-powered cameras to catch smog-related violations. Fresh readings on Friday still showed hazardous air, with Lahore recording an AQI of 298 on IQAir’s ranking and several parts of the city, including Shahdara, Multan Road and Gulberg III, touching 500 on the provincial dashboard. Other Punjab cities also stayed in unhealthy territory, with Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Nankana Sahib and Rajanpur all reporting very high readings. The crackdown matters because it targets the sources named in this week’s air quality report: vehicles, industry and brick kilns. Enforcement alone will not clear the air overnight, but shutting non-compliant kilns and factories before the peak smog season is the practical step residents were waiting for. Sources: Dawn, 247News (IQAir, Punjab EPA). Written in our own words for information only.