The Punjab government is preparing to expand its air quality monitoring network to 100 stations across the province, a major jump from just three in previous years.
Punjab Secretary for Environment Protection and Climate Change, Silwat Saeed, shared at a press briefing that 60 air quality monitors are already operational, with the remaining 40 scheduled for installation by the end of the financial year.
“Our target is 100 monitors, with this year’s budget estimated at Rs3 to Rs4 billion,” she said, calling the expansion from three to 100 a “major milestone” made possible through groundwork and international collaboration.
She announced that starting next month, the department will launch a live dashboard to give the public direct access to air quality data.
“These monitors are connected to IQAir, enabling people to check real-time air quality information online,” she explained.
Discussing technological advances, Saeed said the department has introduced AI-powered digital inspections for industries.
“In the past, inspectors had to physically visit factories. Now, with AI, we can remotely detect emissions and identify violations in real time,” she noted.
Additionally, 15 fog cannons have been deployed in Lahore on a trial basis to help combat pollution.
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