Punjab Farm Fires Hit 898 in a Day, Hafizabad Worst
Punjab farm fires reached 898 anomalies across eight districts in the last 24 hours, Dawn reported, according to the consolidated district-wise monitoring dashboard of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, updated on November 14.
Of these, 820 incidents were attended and 823 fires were reported as extinguished. However, 96 detected farm fire anomalies remain pending for response.
Hafizabad has emerged as the largest hotspot, accounting for 430 farm fire anomalies, about 47.9 per cent of the provincial total.
Punjab farm fires: Hafizabad worst hit
Of Hafizabad’s 430 anomalies, 381 have been attended and extinguished, while 49 remain pending. The district has nine quick response crews (QRCs) deployed, with an average of 47.8 anomalies per crew, the highest pressure among the monitored districts.
Sheikhupura ranks second with 172 anomalies, of which 154 have been attended and extinguished, while 18 remain pending. The district has 22 QRCs deployed and a response rate of 89.5 per cent.
Nankana Sahib has reported 120 anomalies, with 95 attended and extinguished, leaving 25 pending. Its response rate stands at 79.2 per cent, the lowest among the districts with substantial activity. Faisalabad has recorded 93 anomalies, of which 90 have been attended and extinguished, leaving three pending, a response rate of 96.8 per cent.
The other districts
Kasur recorded 70 anomalies while its dashboard shows 88 attended and extinguished, with none pending. Sialkot reported 10 anomalies, 10 attended and 13 extinguished, with none pending.
Sargodha recorded two anomalies, both extinguished, while Gujranwala reported one anomaly, which remained unattended.
Hafizabad, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib together account for 722 of the 898 anomalies, making them particularly important for monitoring and response.
Separately, motorway beat vehicles recorded 20 fire anomalies in the latest 24 hours, of which 13 were attended and seven remained pending, a response rate of 65 per cent.
A total of 67 quick response crews have been deployed in the districts, while the overall response rate stands at 91.3 per cent.
The response on the ground
The EPA has deployed its headquarters-based directors across different divisions to directly supervise anti-stubble burning operations, strengthen field monitoring and ensure an effective response during the smog season.
The directors are already present in their assigned divisions, monitoring field operations with the agriculture department and district administrations, to ensure accountability of field teams and faster action against stubble burning, particularly in the hotspot districts.
EPA Punjab Director General Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh stressed monitoring the actual situation on the ground, verifying reported incidents, identifying gaps and ensuring every hotspot receives a timely response. He said prevention depended on coordinated efforts by the EPA, agriculture department and district administrations, with continuous surveillance and immediate field intervention.
According to an order issued on November 13, five directors posted at EPA Punjab headquarters have been assigned specific divisions to supervise anti-stubble burning activities on November 14 and 15: Waseem Ahsan Cheema for Gujrat, Mian Ejaz Majeed for Sahiwal, Anjum Riaz for Faisalabad, Noor Ahmad for Lahore and Nazim Ayaz Alam for Gujranwala.
The directors would also coordinate with district field officers and relevant line departments for immediate action against violators, and submit field visit reports to the EPA DG upon completion of their assignments.
Why it matters
Stubble burning is one of the main drivers of Punjab’s smog season. Each fire adds smoke to air that is already thick with pollution, and the worst-hit districts sit upwind of Lahore and other large cities.
Feature Pakistan reported on Saturday that a Lahore smog squad was racing to douse stubble fires. Delhi has already overtaken Lahore as the most polluted city, and the EPA earlier linked Diwali air to a smog spike in Punjab. The smog problem is also part of a wider climate challenge, and Pakistan is seeking funds for household solar power at COP31.
Frequently asked questions
How many farm fires were detected in Punjab in 24 hours?
898 anomalies across eight districts, according to the EPA Punjab dashboard updated on November 14.
Which district had the most farm fires?
Hafizabad, with 430 anomalies, about 47.9 per cent of the total. Sheikhupura was second with 172, followed by Nankana Sahib with 120.
How many fires have been put out?
823 fires were reported as extinguished, while 96 anomalies remain pending. The overall response rate stands at 91.3 per cent.
What are quick response crews?
EPA field teams sent to detected fire spots to extinguish them. A total of 67 crews have been deployed across the eight districts.
Who is supervising the anti-stubble burning operation?
Five EPA headquarters directors have been assigned to divisions for November 14 and 15, working with the agriculture department and district administrations.
