Brick kilns are counted among the major sources of air pollution in Punjab. To curb smog and improve air quality, the Punjab government made it mandatory in 2017 for brick kilns to shift from traditional firing methods to zigzag technology. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), brick kilns across Punjab had completed this transition by 2021.

However, ground observations in the agricultural districts of South Punjab do not fully align with this claim. In Khanewal, Vehari, and Multan, most brick kilns have not implemented zigzag technology in its complete form. Instead, they are operating on a hybrid model, an improvised mix of traditional kiln practices and partial zigzag adjustments.

According to Sarfraz Anjum, Deputy Director of EPA Khanewal, scientific research indicates that industrial units contribute more than nine per cent to environmental pollution, with brick kilns forming a significant portion of this share. Currently, 9,041 brick kilns are operational across Punjab.

Brick kilns emit multiple types of carbon emissions simultaneously. This distinct emission profile is one of the key reasons why brick kilns have received focused attention from environmental regulators.

To reduce these emissions, zigzag kiln technology was introduced in Pakistan with the support of ICIMOD. The technology enables better brick firing using less but higher-quality fuel. Scientific studies suggest that zigzag kilns can reduce overall carbon emissions by up to 30 per cent, black carbon emissions by as much as 80 per cent, and fuel consumption by nearly 30 per cent.

Zigzag technology is not a single adjustment but a complete technical system. It requires converting the kiln’s outer circular structure into a rectangular shape. Unfired bricks are stacked in a zigzag pattern, leaving calculated gaps between them so that heat moves forward evenly.

The use of substandard fuels such as plastic or waste material is prohibited under this system. Instead, a balanced mix of coal and sawdust is considered standard. In zigzag kilns, white smoke is regarded as an indicator that both brick stacking and firing are being carried out correctly.

The most expensive stage of conversion to zigzag technology was the structural modification of the kiln

The most expensive stage of conversion to zigzag technology was the structural modification of the kiln

Environmental researcher Zain Bashir, who studies the environmental impacts of zigzag brick kilns, explains that the real benefit of zigzag technology lies in controlled smoke flow, longer retention of flue gases inside the kiln, and uniform heat distribution. These factors improve fuel combustion and reduce particulate pollution.

In South Punjab, however, conditions differ from this ideal model. Most........

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