Chamkta Lahore Campaign 2026: 648 KM of Roads Washed Every Week Against Smog

On 4 November 2026, Lahore got a new weapon against smog: a fleet of road washers, not a machine that filters the air. The Chamkta Lahore Campaign, launched on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is a cleanliness and anti-smog drive that washes the city’s roads, sprays mist into dusty air and cleans the markets and footpaths where dust gathers. It was inaugurated at Liberty Chowk by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique.

This article explains what the campaign does, where it operates, how it fits into the wider anti-smog effort, and what residents can do alongside it. Road washing cannot remove smog on its own, but dust is one source the province can control street by street.

What the Campaign Does

The campaign is built around three machines doing three jobs: washing roads, washing footpaths and spraying mist into the air. Each one targets dust where it is heaviest.

• Road washing: 16 mechanical washing machines wash the major roads, with a weekly target of 648 kilometres and a daily target of 100 kilometres.
• Footpaths: 46 rickshaw-mounted washers clean footpaths, which are often the dustiest surfaces pedestrians use.
• Mist guns: 10 rickshaw-mounted anti-smog mist guns spray water into the air to suppress dust particles.
• Daily routine: the washing runs as a daily operation, not a one-day launch event.

Why Dust Matters in Smog

Dust is not the whole of smog, but it is a large part of what Lahore breathes on a bad day, and it can be reduced street by street.

• Road dust: traffic throws up dust from dry roads, and that dust adds to the particulate matter in the air.
• Construction dust: building sites are a major dust source, and the EPA’s plan requires sprinklers and netting at construction sites.
• Anti-smog guns: the EPA’s mist-spraying anti-smog guns work the same way, settling dust at pollution hotspots across the city.
• Local effect: washing and misting improve the air locally, where the machines operate; they do not clean the air across the whole city.

The Week the Campaign Arrived

The campaign was launched in one of the worst weeks of the season, when Lahore’s readings were hazardous and the city’s hospitals were seeing the effects.

• 2 November spike: Lahore’s AQI hit 535 at 8am on 2 November, with PM2.5 at 343 micrograms per cubic metre.
• 4 November readings: Lahore’s AQI reached 362 on the morning of 4 November and topped 700 in Allama Iqbal Town.
• Water trucks out: the government sent out water trucks and mist guns to wash the roads as the air worsened.
• 9 November recovery: on 9 November, the average AQI fell from 489 at 9am to 232 by 3pm as emergency operations ran.

How It Fits the Wider Anti-Smog Effort

Chamkta Lahore is one piece of a larger system, and the campaign’s machines are its most visible part.

• Enforcement: the EPA’s ten vehicle teams, kiln inspections and the 15 November green sticker deadline run alongside the washing.
• Monitoring: the Punjab EPA dashboard at aqi.punjab.gov.pk updates hourly and ranks every Punjab city.
• Burning ban: the chief minister ordered a complete ban on crop residue burning on 6 November, with deputy commissioners held responsible.
• Pre-smog plan: the work follows the EPA’s Pre-Smog Action Plan 2026, a 32-point order signed on 5 July 2026.

What Residents Can Do Alongside It

Road washing helps, but the air on a hazardous day is still dangerous. The department’s advice follows the AQI band.

• Check the dashboard first: look at aqi.punjab.gov.pk before going out; it updates every hour.
• Above 200: wear a mask outdoors and avoid heavy effort.
• Above 400: stay indoors; if going out cannot be avoided, wear an N95 mask and protective glasses.
• Protect the vulnerable: children, older people and anyone with asthma or heart disease should stay indoors on bad-air days.

How to Report Dust and Smoke

The campaign works best when residents point it at the worst spots. Reporting a dusty road, a smoking vehicle or a burning pile is the fastest way to get enforcement to it.

• Helpline 1373: the environment department’s helpline takes reports of burning, black smoke and smoky vehicles.
• Green Punjab app: smoke sources can also be reported through the Green Punjab app.
• What to report: open burning, black smoke from factories, smoke-emitting vehicles and uncovered sand trolleys.
• Worst weeks ahead: the disaster management outlook expects smog risk to rise from mid-November into December, so reporting matters more in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

The Chamkta Lahore Campaign is the province’s most visible answer to the smog of November 2026: 100 roads and markets, 648 kilometres washed weekly, 16 road washers, 46 footpath washers and 10 mist guns. It cannot clear the sky on its own, but it attacks the dust the province can control, street by street.

FAQs

What is the Chamkta Lahore campaign?
It is a cleanliness and anti-smog campaign launched on 4 November 2026 that washes roads, cleans footpaths and sprays mist to suppress dust across Lahore.

How many roads does the campaign cover?
100 major roads, locations and commercial markets, with about 648 kilometres of roads washed every week.

How many machines does the campaign use?
16 mechanical road washing machines, 46 rickshaw-mounted footpath washers and 10 rickshaw-mounted anti-smog mist guns.

Does road washing remove smog?
No. It reduces airborne dust locally, where the machines operate. Smog also comes from vehicles, industry, kilns and burning.

How can I report dust or smoke in my area?
Call helpline 1373 or report through the Green Punjab app.

CM Punajb

The editor of epdpunjab.pk, covering the Environment Protection & Climate Change Department, Punjab and the CM Punjab Climate Leadership Development Internship Program 2026, with information verified from official sources.