As smog hangs over Lahore, Pakistan's new pollution squad races to douse stubble fires

As smog once again enveloped major parts of South Asia, Pakistani authorities have escalated an anti-stubble burning campaign, claiming it is aggravating the region's annual air pollution crisis. On Thursday, officers from a newly established rapid response unit responded to a paddy field on the outskirts of Lahore. Smoke billowed low over the stubble, and the team swiftly extinguished the fire, averting further pollution.

This unit is the inaugural of its kind in Pakistan, specifically tasked with combating pollution, according to officials. It represents a significant step in a broader initiative claimed by Punjab officials to be effective.

In the region, farmers routinely ignite leftover rice residue after their October harvest, contributing to a toxic blend of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and construction dust trapped under cold winter air, pushing pollution levels to dangerous heights. The rapid response team is the first of its kind in Pakistan, dedicated to tackling pollution. Punjab officials express optimism about the initiative's impact.

Satellite data reveal fewer burned areas in India and Pakistan compared to historical averages this time of year, despite locals in Pakistan expressing difficulty in perceiving improvements. The Punjab government has formed a 750-member force, divided into 67 rapid-response units, covering major rice-growing districts. These teams aim to reach reported field fires within 10 to 15 minutes.

Ashfaq Hussain, a deputy director of the force, explained that the department receives complaints through various channels and responds to them as quickly as possible. During a single 24-hour period this week, the department received 679 fire reports from across Punjab and extinguished 650 of them.

Those found violating the law face fines, arrest, or both. Farmers caught burning stubble can be fined 15,000 Pakistani rupees ($54) per acre, with those who fail to pay potentially facing prosecution and up to six months in jail, according to Muhammad Farooq, an assistant director of the Punjab Agriculture Department. Lahore's air quality remains hazardous, as confirmed by Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir.

The government has also distributed more than 10,000 subsidized super seeders, subsidizing 60% of their cost. Despite these measures, adoption of the new technology remains limited. Farmers who have switched to the subsidized super seeders and other machinery report significant improvements in their wheat yields per acre. However, many still prefer the practice due to its perceived affordability and speed in clearing fields for the next crop.

Pakistan and India have often blamed each other for exacerbating the air quality crisis. Pakistani officials, including Silwat Saeed, chief of the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department in Punjab, acknowledge the significant challenge faced by both nations and have raised the issue at international forums. India's foreign ministry has not commented on the matter.

Locals in Lahore have been affected by the smog, with patients crowding hospitals and medical facilities. Abdullah Nayyar, director general of the Punjab Environment Protection Department, noted that smog-related throat hospitalizations last month were only 69% of the level recorded in October 2025. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abubakar, a heart patient with diabetes, expressed concern over the smog-induced breathing issues and eye infections.

Mohammad Niaz Butt, who experiences blocked nose and throat, criticized authorities for failing to address the issue.