How to Report a Smoking Brick Kiln or Factory in Punjab: Call 1373 or Use WhatsApp

To report a smoking brick kiln, factory or burning garbage in Punjab, call the Environment Protection Department helpline 1373, send a WhatsApp message to 0335-9232227, or use the Green Punjab app. Add the place, a photo and the time. The department lists all three on its own website.

Smog season has started and kilns, factories and open burning are among the biggest local sources. A report works best when it is specific, so this guide shows what to send and what happens next.

Pick one of the three official channels

The Punjab Environment Protection Department takes complaints on a helpline, on WhatsApp and through the Green Punjab app. We read all three on epd.punjab.gov.pk on 8 October 2026. Use only these, and ignore numbers shared in forwarded messages.

The department's site also lists the Pakistan Citizens Portal as a route. We did not test any channel by filing a complaint, so we cannot tell you how fast each one replies.

Collect five details before you report

A complaint needs a place that inspectors can find. Send the exact location, the time, a photo or short video, what is burning and how long it has been going on. Without a location, most reports cannot be acted on.

Follow these steps:

1. Stand where you can see the chimney or fire safely, and do not go close.
2. Take one wide photo that shows the surroundings and one close photo of the smoke.
3. Drop a location pin on your phone map, or note the nearest landmark, road and village.
4. Write the time and what you think is burning, such as coal, tyres, plastic or garbage.
5. Send it on WhatsApp or the app, or call 1373 and read the details out.
6. Save the message or complaint number so you can follow up.

Do not post the photo online with the owner's name. Report it first. Naming a person publicly can cause trouble for you and does not help the inspection.

Know the kiln rule so you report the right thing

Brick kilns that have not moved to zigzag technology were reported to be closed from 1 October to 31 December 2026, with sealing and demolition for those that keep running. So a kiln that is firing in October may be breaking the rule.

We did not read the notification itself, so treat these dates as reported. A zigzag kiln arranges the bricks so air moves in a zigzag path. It gives off less smoke and uses less fuel. A kiln with a thick black plume is often the old type.

An old kiln is not the only problem. Factories burning tyres or plastic, and workshops burning waste at night, are also reportable. Agricultural fires have their own route in our guide to crop burning fines and reporting.

Report smoky vehicles and open burning the same way

The same channels take reports of garbage and tyre burning and of vehicles blowing black smoke. For vehicles, note the number plate only if you can see it safely and legally, and say where the vehicle was.

The department has a crackdown on smoky vehicles this month, covered in our report on the Punjab smoke vehicle crackdown. For schools and parents, see how the EPA is asking Lahore schools to arrange carpooling.

Noise and tree cutting are different complaints. Noise has its own steps in the guide to reporting noise pollution, and illegal cutting is covered in the guide to reporting tree cutting in Lahore.

Protect yourself while you wait for action

A report does not clear the air in your street today. Check the air quality, keep windows shut on bad days and wear a good mask outside. Our guide to checking the Lahore air quality index shows where to read it.

Families with children or older parents should read the advice in the guide to protecting children and older parents from smog. The wider picture is in the explainer on what actually protects you in smog season.

Common questions about reporting pollution in Punjab

Is the helpline 1373 free?

We did not check the call charge. Use the WhatsApp number or the app if you do not want to pay for a call.

Will my name be kept private?

We could not confirm the department's privacy rule. Share only what you are comfortable with, and do not post the owner's name online.

Can I report a kiln in a district outside Lahore?

Yes. The helpline, WhatsApp and app are listed as provincial channels. Give the district, village and nearest road so the local team can find it.

Does a report lead to a fine or sealing?

That depends on the inspection. A kiln or factory that breaks the rules can be sealed or fined. We cannot promise a result for any single report.

What if nothing happens after I report?

Send a follow-up with your complaint number and the same photos a few days later. You can also write to the department in Lahore, using the address on its website.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 8 October 2026. The helpline 1373, WhatsApp number, Green Punjab app and written complaint route come from the Environment Protection Department's own website. We did not file a test complaint. The kiln closure dates from 1 October to 31 December were reported to us and we could not read the notification, so confirm them with the department.