Trees to ring brick kilns

Express Tribune

12-05-2025

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a wide-reaching tree plantation campaign at brick kilns across the province to combat air pollution and environmental degradation.
According to officials, the initiative under the 'Plant for Pakistan' programme seeks to transform the barren land surroundings over 8,500 brick kilns into green zones, thereby improving public health, reducing smog and air pollution, and protecting the biodiversity and the ecosystem of the province.
The officials said the campaign comes as part of the Punjab government's ongoing efforts to address climate change, urban pollution and the environmental toll caused by industrial activities, especially around the thousands of brick kilns in all districts of the province.
According to EPA data, at least 8,551 brick kilns are operating throughout the province, of which many are significant contributors to air and soil pollution.
The EPA has identified the sites as critical zones for ecological restoration.
Under the plan, a total of 513,060 trees will be planted in the vicinity of the kilns, of which 317,195 have already been planted. The plantations represent a strategised intervention using fast-growing, native species to ensure long-term sustainability and environmental resilience.
Brick kilns in the province are among the top reasons of air pollution and smog. Lahore and other big cities of Punjab were listed among most polluted cities of the world, especially in the winter, in recent years, forcing the government to close education institutions, industries, brick kilns and markets.
During the ongoing campaign, in Lahore division the EPA has planted at least 40,520 trees, Gujranwala 38,726, Multan 26,949, Faisalabad 35,482, Bahawalpur 34,091, Sahiwal 33,174, Sargodha 32,285, Rawalpindi 40,343 and Dera Ghazi Khan 36,080 trees will be planted in this massive campaign.
To monitor the growth of the trees, the EPA is utilising the geo-tagging technology. Each plantation site is digitally mapped and monitored through images and data logs submitted by field officers. This digital approach ensures transparency and allows real-time tracking of plant survival rates and campaign reach.
Field teams have been engaged in the planting and continue to submit progress evidence. Strict directives have been issued to meet the plantation targets within the timeline. Regional directorates have conducted supervisory visits and provided support to ensure that the implementation adheres to environmental and safety protocols.
Key plantation events were organised in several districts, including Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura and Sahiwal, said Punjab Environment Protection Department Communication Adviser Sajid Bashir.
Along with the plantation activities, the EPA has organised awareness sessions in schools and communities across the province in this regard. The sessions aim to educate children and residents on the importance of trees, biodiversity and environmental responsibility.
In many districts, schoolchildren participated in tree planting.
The officials said a unique aspect of the campaign is its focus on planting native tree species, which are better adapted to local climate conditions and offer ecological benefits. These trees not only reduce pollution but also contribute to groundwater recharge, provide shade and enhance the natural beauty of surrounding areas.
They said that by targeting high-pollution zones like brick kilns, the EPA is setting a precedent for how environmental restoration can be achieved in harmony with industrial operations.