A Targeted Blast Against the Haze: How the EPA is Using Water Cannons to Clear Lahore’s Smog. The annual season of smog chokes the life out of Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan. However, the Punjab government has taken a very proactive, visibly aggressive measure under the direct guidance of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif: deploying anti-smog water cannons through its Environmental Protection Agency. This makes a great stride into applying modern technology towards a tangible, immediate reduction in the pollutants in the air.
The Technology: How ‘Smog Guns’ Work
Referred to as “anti-smog guns” or “fog cannons” by officials, these are truck-mounted devices able to spray a powerful, ultra-fine mist of water.
- Working Principle: The cannons spray micro-droplets of water up to 100 meters into the air. These microscopic droplets act like magnets, binding to the harmful airborne particulate matter-specifically PM2.5 and PM10-which are the major culprits of severe smog. When these particles become saturated, their collective weight pulls them down to the ground, clearing the air for a time.
- Scale of Deployment: Reports indicate an initial deployment of up to 15 locally manufactured units, with more in production, signifying a serious and localized commitment to the anti-smog campaign.
Early Results and CM Maryam Nawaz’s Directive
The initiative has rapidly moved from a trial into an active deployment, with the Chief Minister’s emphasis on reaping benefits in public welfare using technology. - Successful Trials: Early tests in high-risk zones, like the Kahna area of Lahore, showed promising results. Officials noted a sharp decline in the Air Quality Index, saying that pollution levels have been reduced as high as 70% within minutes after the operation began. This success was confirmed by advanced environmental monitoring systems, therefore confirming the strategy for wider implementation.
- Real-time Response: The operation of the EPA is integrated with a modern Air Quality Network and, in some instances, features the inclusion of AI-powered activation. The result is the placement of cannons in locations where pollution intensity is spiking, providing a very targeted and timely intervention.
- Focus on Health: CM Maryam Nawaz has framed the anti-smog drive as a fight for the health of the citizens, pointing out that the reduction in air pollutants will help check the alarming rise in respiratory illnesses like asthma and lung infections that peak during the smog season.
Part of a Broader Environmental Strategy
While the water cannons do provide immediate, localized relief, the administration realizes they are part of an overall, coordinated approach. To this end, the Chief Minister instructed a multi-departmental approach, including:
- Source Control: Increased monitoring of brick kilns including through the use of drones and industrial units to enforce emission standards.
- Dust mitigation: Water-spraying on the roads and at the construction sites for suppressing fugitive dust through city-wide operations by agencies like WASA/LDA.
- Vehicular Emission Checks: Rigorous checks against smoke-emitting vehicles and restriction of the movement of heavy, uncovered transports during peak pollution times. The deployment of anti-smog water cannons in Lahore is an audacious, high-visibility effort by the Punjab government to address an ongoing environmental problem using advanced technology. A sustainable, long-term solution would involve curbing root causes of pollution, such as industrial and vehicular emissions; this aggressive, targeted response provides much-needed short-term succor for the millions who breathe hazardous air. Watch for a more visual understanding of the environmental measure: CM Maryam Nawaz’s Green Initiative: Punjab Fights Pollution – Anti-Smog Gun Tech Launched
📞 Contact Information for EPA Punjab (Lahore Office)
| Detail | Information |
| Address | Gate No. 8, National Hockey Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore |
| Phone | 042 – 99231818 |
| Director General’s Phone | 042 – 99232230 |
| Fax | 042 – 99232236 |
| ddisepa@punjab.gov.pk | |
| Complaint WhatsApp | 0335-9232227 |
Lodge a Complaint
You can lodge an environmental complaint in the following ways:
- Through the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU) or the Pakistan Citizen Portal.
- By directly emailing the Deputy Director Information and Services at ddisepa@punjab.gov.pk.
FAQs on the Role and Functions of the EPA
| Question | Answer |
| What is the EPA in Pakistan? | The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) is the federal executive agency established under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (PEPA ’97). Its primary role is to enforce the Act and its associated rules and regulations. |
| What are the key functions of the EPA? | The EPA’s functions include: 1. Enforcement of the PEPA ’97. 2. Review and Approval of environmental reports (IEE/EIA). 3. Establishment of the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for air, water, and noise. 4. Surveillance, monitoring, and publication of reports on the state of the environment. 5. Dissemination of information and public guidance on environmental matters. |
| Why are there multiple EPAs (Federal and Provincial)? | Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the subject of environmental protection was largely devolved to the provinces. Each province (Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan) has its own Environmental Protection Agency/Department to enforce the provincial environmental acts and regulations within its jurisdiction. |
| What is an Environmental Protection Order (EPO)? | An EPO is a legal order issued by the EPA when it determines that a person or entity is discharging pollution (effluent, air pollutants, noise) or handling hazardous substances in a manner that is likely to cause, or is causing, an adverse environmental effect. |
A Targeted Blast Against the Haze: How the EPA is Using Water Cannons to Clear Lahore’s Smog
