[Mohsin Munir]

Brick kilns Lahore closing

Brick kilns expected to be closed for 2 months in Lahore

By 24 News HD – Sept 8, 2018

[Mohsin Munir]

So news are circulating that government has decided to close brick kilns in and around Lahore for around 2 months starting from Oct 20 up till Dec 31st. Reason for closing is a precautionary measure for the upcoming smog season in Lahore. City has been witnessing severe smog season for a couple of years now in the month of November every year which makes breathing difficult and visibility level also goes down. It also causes several health issues related to infections of ENT.

So what and how will it effect the construction industry? Will there be any alternate source of income for the poor brick kiln labor that work on daily wages basis? Talking about the construction industry, brick prices have already gone up in Lahore region since this news has started circulating and people are already planning to store bricks in advance. Once this ban is in place, brick kiln owners will definitely raise the prices of available stock. Construction cost/prices that have already gone higher in recent months due to increase in prices of steel, cement and labor might further go up after this latest development. Though brick kiln owners are trying to obtain a court stay order against government but it is unlikely to go in their favour.

Got any latest news related to this issue? Kindly add in this topic!

[Mohsin Munir]

Kiln owners increasing brick prices on every Wednesday. Just because people are getting panicked and stocking bricks in bulk, all brick kiln owners are cashing the situation. Only if people and domestic buyers of bricks for few days boycott the use of brick, situation can be controlled. The way government announced and decided to close the brick kilns for two months was the most stupid decision taken by any government regarding construction industry in years! Cement prices are increasing at same instance, steel prices about to increase due to increase in gas prices and bricks prices going crazy! Planning to build 5 million houses in 5 years and taking weird decisions even before the launch of project!

[Mohsin Munir]

[Mohsin Munir]

LATEST UPDATE:

Brick kilns were supposed to be closed on 20th Oct which actually didn’t happen and new date was issued i-e 27th october. Even on 27th october brick kilns did not shut down and are still operational. A notification was issued from deputy commissioner office on 27th October regarding the prices of bricks which is attached below:

[Mohsin Munir]

LATEST UPDATE:
As of today, almost 80% brick kilns have completely stopped the kilns. Brick prices still at rise and no implementation on above notification so far in the market!

[Mohsin Munir]

Reopening of brick-kilns

By Pakistan Observer – November 28, 2018

PUNJAB Government has taken a wise decision by ordering re-opening of brick-kilns in the province, although it is partial reopening and needs to be looked into in a broader framework. As per reports, the provincial government has allowed brick-kilns to resume their operations in twenty-five districts while those in eleven others would remain closed, perhaps until end of December when smog problem starts mitigating.
There is no doubt that the decision to close down brick-kilns in Punjab was motivated by the desire of the authorities concerned to address the issue of environmental degradation. The decision was taken at the recommendations of the Smog Commission which also asked brick-kilns owners to convert their brick kilns to new zigzag technology during the closure period. It was also decided that substandard fuel being used in brick kilns will not be tolerated during this period. Brick Kilns Owners Association of Pakistan is supportive of the governmental requirement to adapt zigzag technology and in fact a model plant has also been set up in Lahore but its demand that the Government should subsidize the adoption of the technology also deserves consideration by the Government. The money that the Government spends on tackling the consequences of environmental pollution should better be spent on environment friendly technology. There should be no whimsical decisions of closing down brick-kilns as it amounts to depriving the construction sector of a vital ingredient for construction. Already, the decision has led to substantial increase in price of bricks and weak enforcement and vigilance means the price-hike would not be reverted even after reopening of the brick-kilns.

[Mohsin Munir]

First-ever zigzag brick kiln becomes functional in Khanewal

By AWAIS QARNI Published: December 24, 2018

MULTAN:

South Punjab’s first-ever zigzag brick kiln has been made operational in Jahanian, Khanewal district. After Lahore, this is the first kiln in South Punjab with has been converted to the zigzag technology.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, brick kiln owner Muhammad Khalid Umar says that the technology has reduced coal consumption by 40%. “Over 0.7 million bricks can be baked at the same time,” he reveals. “Around Rs10 million were spent on constructing this brick kiln. Not only does it not cause pollution, it is also cost effective,” he adds.
Environmental expert Dr Umar Ghouri says that zigzag brick kilns emit white smoke, which is not harmful for human health, as compared to the black smoke which is emitted from traditional kilns.

Smog, which is formed when black smoke released from kilns mixes with the atmosphere, causes several diseases. “Asthma, chronic bronchitis, respiratory diseases, eye infections and lungs diseases are some of the maladies that smog can cause,” he explains. All traditional kilns should be converted to the zigzag technology, he suggests.
Most importantly the environmental impact of the new kiln has not gone unnoticed by residents in the area. Abid, a resident in the area, says that the old kiln had caused many health problems in citizens.
“Now, the environment is safe and the air is once again fresh,” he expresses. Previously, the people used to contract lung and eye infections due to the high levels of air pollution. “But the white smoke emitted from the zigzag brick kiln is completely harmless,” he says.

On October 27, the Punjab government imposed a temporary ban on operating traditional brick kilns in the province in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and smog. Taking the extent of air pollution into consideration, the government directed owners to convert to zigzag technology. The technology, which is originally from Nepal, was introduced in Pakistan with the cooperation of the Brick Kiln Owners Association of Pakistan (BKOAP) about a year ago.

[Mohsin Munir]

Brick prices on decline after reopening of brick kilns

By Mohammad Mohsin Published: January 16, 2019

Lahore:

On October 27, the Punjab government imposed a temporary ban on operating traditional brick kilns in the province in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and smog. Taking the extent of air pollution into consideration, the government directed owners to convert to zigzag technology. The technology, which is originally from Nepal, was introduced in Pakistan with the cooperation of the Brick Kiln Owners Association of Pakistan (BKOAP) about a year ago.

A ban on baking of bricks in conventional brick kilns that was supposed to be for around 2 months till December 31st, definitely worked and helped in controlling smog in Lahore. City witnessed much lesser smog in November/December 2018 as compared to previous year November/December 2017. Brick kilns in few districts were given a go ahead of starting operations in mid of December however most of the brick kilns specially in Lahore started the fire on December 31st 2018. Currently all brick kilns are working in normal condition and gradually supply of bricks is coming back to its routine. Hence as a result the prices of bricks that witnessed a sharp increase in September 2018 due to closure of brick kilns, are coming back to its original values. Awwal brick that was available in around 9 Rs before this scenario, was being sold upto 11.5 to 12 Rs during the ban, however the rate has now lowered to 10.5 Rs per brick and is expected to go further down up to 10 Rs/brick by the end of January 2019.

Smog, which is formed when black smoke released from kilns mixes with the atmosphere, causes several diseases. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, respiratory diseases, eye infections and lungs diseases are some of the maladies that smog can cause.

Cc: Team Overc’s construction services

[Mohsin Munir]

Brick-kilns to be closed again from 20th OCT 2019

By Team Overc’s – October 4, 2019

Following the year 2018, Punjab government has decided yet again to close brick kilns throughout Punjab starting from 20th October 2019. Brick kilns were closed for the tenure of October 2018 to December 2018 to successfully prevent the environment from possible dense smog before the start of winter season. Only those brick kilns will be allowed to operate that have converted to the zig zag kiln technology.

There is no doubt that the decision to close down brick-kilns in Punjab was motivated by the desire of the authorities concerned to address the issue of environmental degradation. The decision was taken at the recommendations of the Smog Commission which also asked brick-kilns owners to convert their brick kilns to new zigzag technology during the closure period. It was also decided that substandard fuel being used in brick kilns will not be tolerated during this period. Brick Kilns Owners Association of Pakistan is supportive of the governmental requirement to adapt zigzag technology and in fact a model plant has also been set up in Lahore but its demand that the Government should subsidise the adoption of the technology also deserves consideration by the Government. The money that the Government spends on tackling the consequences of environmental pollution should better be spent on environment friendly technology. There should be no whimsical decisions of closing down brick-kilns as it amounts to depriving the construction sector of a vital ingredient for construction. Already, the decision has led to substantial increase in price of bricks and weak enforcement and vigilance means the price-hike would not be reverted even after reopening of the brick-kilns.

[Mohsin Munir]

Bricks/1000 rates as decided by the Brick kiln association of Lahore region. These are ex-bhatta prices and carriage/loading/offloading which is minimum 1500 Rs/1000 bricks is to be added in this rate.

[Mohsin Munir]

Brick-kilns to be closed again from 7th Nov 2020

By Team Overc’s – October 4, 2019

Following the year 2018 & 2019, Punjab government has decided yet again to close brick kilns throughout Punjab starting from 7th November 2020. Brick kilns were closed for the tenure of October 2018/19 to December 2018/19 to successfully prevent the environment from possible dense smog before the start of winter season. Only those brick kilns will be allowed to operate that have converted to the zig zag kiln technology.

There is no doubt that the decision to close down brick-kilns in Punjab was motivated by the desire of the authorities concerned to address the issue of environmental degradation. The decision was taken at the recommendations of the Smog Commission which also asked brick-kilns owners to convert their brick kilns to new zigzag technology during the closure period. It was also decided that substandard fuel being used in brick kilns will not be tolerated during this period. Brick Kilns Owners Association of Pakistan is supportive of the governmental requirement to adapt zigzag technology and in fact a model plant has also been set up in Lahore but its demand that the Government should subsidise the adoption of the technology also deserves consideration by the Government. The money that the Government spends on tackling the consequences of environmental pollution should better be spent on environment friendly technology. There should be no whimsical decisions of closing down brick-kilns as it amounts to depriving the construction sector of a vital ingredient for construction. Already, the decision has led to substantial increase in price of bricks and weak enforcement and vigilance means the price-hike would not be reverted even after reopening of the brick-kilns.

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