Strict action ordered against illegal marble factories to curb air, water pollution

A high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, resolved to undertake decisive and result-oriented measures to curb the growing menace of air and water pollution across the province

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Feb, 2026) A high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, resolved to undertake decisive and result-oriented measures to curb the growing menace of air and water pollution across the province.

The meeting focused particularly on unauthorized industrial activities that have contributed significantly to environmental degradation.

During the session, Secretary Climate Change, Forestry, Environment & Wildlife Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Junaid Khan delivered a comprehensive briefing.

He informed the forum that more than 235 marble units are operating along Warsak Road in Peshawar, while over 250 units are established in Malagori.

A considerable number of these units, he noted, are functioning without formal approvals and without compliance with mandatory environmental regulations.

The meeting was also attended by the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), officials of the Climate Change Cell, and other relevant officers.

It was unanimously decided that immediate legal action would be initiated against illegal marble factories operating in Warsak Road and Malagori.

Furthermore, work has commenced on a comprehensive action plan to regularize the Malagori Marble Cluster—spread over more than 170 acres—under clearly defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The objective is to bring the industry within the ambit of law while ensuring strict environmental safeguards.

The briefing further highlighted that marble factories currently operating on Warsak Road will be relocated in phases to the designated Industrial Park on Kohat Road, Peshawar.

This industrial zone will operate under modern environmental compliance mechanisms, including integrated waste management systems and adherence to contemporary pollution control standards.

The relocation aims not only to shield residential populations from the harmful impacts of pollution but also to transform the industry into a more organized, sustainable, and environmentally responsible sector.

Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah directed that both initiatives be implemented strictly within stipulated timelines, emphasizing that no negligence or delay would be tolerated.

He underscored the need to develop an effective and practical regulatory framework for the marble industry, incorporating modern technology, dust control mechanisms, water recycling systems, and internationally recognized waste management standards.

He further stressed that industrial growth, employment protection, and environmental improvement must be treated with equal importance.

The government’s vision, he remarked, is to adopt a balanced development model in which economic progress and environmental stewardship are not adversaries but complementary forces working in harmony.

The meeting also agreed that indiscriminate action would be taken against illegal industrial operations, while industries willing to comply with regulations would be extended facilitation, guidance, and technical support to transition toward environmentally friendly production systems.

This decision reflects the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to transfom Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a clean, safe, and sustainable industrial province where the pace of development continues unabated, and the purity of air, water, and natural landscapes remains preserved for generations to come.