ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has set October 20, 2025 as the final deadline for all brick kilns in Islamabad to adopt zig-zag technology or face legal action.
A meeting to discuss smog control and environmental protection in the city was jointly chaired by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zeb Ali. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon and CDA board members also attended the meeting.
“It was decided that all brick kilns and industries in Islamabad must adopt modern and environment-friendly technology. Those failing to comply will face strict legal action,” the CDA said in a statement.
Currently, around 30 brick kilns operate in Islamabad. While many have already shifted to zig-zag technology, some kilns near the Rawalpindi-Islamabad border are reluctant to adopt eco-friendly methods.
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CDA Chairman Randhawa directed that brick kilns violating Pak-EPA regulations and causing air pollution must be dismantled according to law. He also asked for a joint strategy with the Rawalpindi administration to manage border-area kilns.
The CDA chief added that Pak-EPA and other relevant authorities will work together to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive smog prevention plan in Islamabad.
The Deputy Commissioner informed the meeting that the administration is taking steps to reduce smog, including checking smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns, and industries. Vehicle carbon emission tests are being conducted, and results are shared on a live dashboard.
Five certified laboratories are operating in the capital for vehicle emission testing. Randhawa said more checkpoints will be set up to monitor vehicle emissions.
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On air quality monitoring, DG Pak-EPA said a station in Sector H-8 is operational, and additional stations are being installed across the city to provide authentic Air Quality Index (AQI) data.
The meeting also focused on other causes of smog, such as open-air waste burning and dust from development projects. The CDA chairman instructed authorities to ban open waste burning immediately and register cases against violators. For construction-related dust, water sprinkling should be done at all sites, and SOPs in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) must be implemented.
Randhawa emphasized that CDA, Pak-EPA, and ICT administration must coordinate effectively to provide citizens with a clean and healthy environment.
