Zig-Zag Technology Helps Lower Pollution

News Desk

Lahore: Punjab province is blanketed in thick smog every winter, so the government has launched several initiatives, including the use of cutting-edge Zig-Zag technology in the brick kiln industry to reduce air pollution.

The brick kilns were viewed as serious pollution contributors, especially during the winter, in addition to industrial, vehicular, and home pollutants. The Zig-Zag technology project has been implemented as a result of protecting the climate, transforming the traditional brick industry, increasing productivity, and lower brick costs.

The traditional brick production consisted of hand-made bricks baked in Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kilns (FCBTK), a widely used brick firing technology in South Asia. This is frequently listed as the most environmentally damaging method of producing bricks, leading to negative environmental effects such as air pollution, climate change, cardio-respiratory illnesses, impacts on land use, and deforestation. Therefore, the Punjab government’s use of Zig-Zag technology as a contemporary, environmentally friendly process is a step in the right direction towards modernising traditional brick kilns. Zig-Zag Technology Helps Lower Pollution

“Conversion of brick kilns to zig-zag technology would definitely curtail air pollution,” said Punjab Environment Protection Department Director Naseem-ur-Rehman.

Naseem-ur-Rehman stated that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has been successful in converting the majority of operational brick kilns from the older, smoke-emitting fossil fuel technology to the new, cleaner technology.

According to Naseem, the main distinction between the traditional FCBTK and the brick kiln powered by zig-zag technology is that while bricks are placed in the former using a straight pattern, the latter uses a zig-zag pattern that allows efficient manoeuvring of air for heating purposes.

Director Naseem-ur-Rehman said, “The new technology would help reduce breath-choking carbon emissions by 60 percent and reduce air pollution.” In comparison to conventional brick kilns, the zig-zag technology also enhances fuel efficiency, saves energy, and lessens emissions, he added.

The Punjab government made sure to provide loans to brick-kiln operators during the conversion process in order to facilitate the transition, and the Environment Protection Department (EPD) issued a notification restricting operation to brick kilns having zig-zag technology.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) had provided technical assistance to brick-kiln owners with the support of Punjab EPD and the PDMA.

PDMA Punjab Director Nisar Sani said that the Punjab province has successfully converted its brick kilns to more efficient and cleaner technology in a short span of time, reducing the ratio of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in the air.

Director Sani mentioned that PDMA has also developed the ‘Saans APP’ mobile application to help resolve smog-related complaints from citizens at their doorsteps. “The complaints received through this ‘app’ are immediately forwarded to relevant authorities for speedy action to resolve them,” he added.

Nisar informed me that departments like PDMA, traffic police, metropolitan corporation, PHA, transport, agriculture, industry, and local government departments are linked to this ‘aap’.

He further added that although many kiln owners were hesitant to adopt new technology, persistent attempts and tireless labour by related departments and organisations enabled the conversion of roughly 10,000 kilns in Punjab to the zig-zag method.

In the past, Pakistan’s brick kiln industry operated unregulated, especially in rural regions, with little regard for social and environmental regulations.

However, with increased awareness of environmental issues and the development of new technologies, brick kiln owners must finally choose a more contemporary and environmentally friendly technology in order to improve earnings while simultaneously lowering air pollution and ensuring a better environment for people.