Pak-EPA seals polluting marble factories in Anti-Smog Crackdown

ISLAMABAD:  In a major enforcement operation against industrial air pollution, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in coordination with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, sealed several non-compliant marble factories operating near Sector B-17, Islamabad, for persistent violations of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, according to a press release issued here on Thursday.

“The action was part of Pak-EPA’s ongoing campaign to curb smog and control dust emissions from marble and granite processing units, which were identified as significant contributors to deteriorating air quality in and around the federal capital,” said Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, media spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination.

The operation was led by Mr. Khalid Mehmood Chadhar, Director (EIA/Monitoring), and Mr. Muhammad Ramazan, Deputy Director (Legal/Enforcement) of Pak-EPA Islamabad under the supervision of the Director General of Pak-EPA Islamabad Nazia Zeb Ali.

The inspection, conducted in the presence of a magistrate, found that several marble processing units had failed to comply with repeated notices and warnings issued by the competent authority.

The Director General Nazia Zeb Ali said that excessive dust and fine particulate matter generated during marble cutting and polishing are among the leading causes of ambient air pollution, which has been worsening during the current smog season, affecting both public health and visibility.

Therefore, the non-compliant units were sealed, and Environmental Protection Orders (EPOs) were issued under the relevant provisions of the law for persistent violations of environmental standards, she added.

“Industrial units must adopt effective pollution-control technologies and comply with the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) to protect public health and Islamabad’s environment,” said Director General Pak-EPA Nazia Zeb Ali. “Pak-EPA will continue strict enforcement to ensure clean air and sustainable industrial practices across the region.”

She reaffirmed federal environmental watchdog’s commitment to strict enforcement of environmental laws and urged all industrial operators to switch to environmentally sustainable methods to reduce emissions and support the government’s broader anti-smog strategy.