Live public dashboard, AI-based inspections part of Rs4 billion plan
FAISALABAD – In a major step toward tackling environmental pollution, the Punjab government has announced plans to install a total of 100 air quality monitors across the province — a dramatic increase from just three monitors in previous years.
Speaking at a media briefing, Punjab’s Secretary for Environment Protection and Climate Change, Silwat Saeed, said the initiative represents a significant leap in the province’s environmental monitoring capacity.
“So far, 60 air quality monitors have already been installed,” she revealed. “The remaining 40 will be up and running before the end of the current financial year.”
The ambitious project is part of a broader environmental reform strategy, with an estimated budget of Rs3 to Rs4 billion allocated for this phase alone. “Going from 3 to 100 monitors is no small achievement,” Saeed noted. “This transformation was only made possible due to meticulous planning and strong collaboration with international partners.”
One of the standout features of the initiative is the launch of a publicly accessible digital dashboard next month, offering real-time updates on air quality across Punjab. The new monitors are integrated with IQAir, a global air quality platform, allowing citizens to access live pollution data online.
“Transparency is key,” she added. “The public deserves to know the air they’re breathing, and now they will be able to track it in real time.”
The secretary also highlighted a wave of technological upgrades within the department, including the digitisation of industrial inspections through artificial intelligence.
“Previously, our inspectors had to physically visit factories and industrial zones,” she explained. “But with AI-enabled tools, we can now monitor emissions remotely and identify violations as they happen.”
To tackle smog, especially in urban centers like Lahore, the department has also deployed 15 fog cannons on a trial basis.
Environmental experts have cautiously welcomed the move, saying real-time monitoring and data transparency are crucial first steps — but long-term impact will depend on enforcement and public awareness.
