Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has officially launched Pakistan’s first aerial surveillance system using drone technology. Spearheaded by Director General Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh, the project marks a transformative step toward combating environmental degradation with innovation and accountability. The initiative, aptly named the Hawk Eye Project, has established a specialized drone-based monitoring company dedicated to tracking and identifying environmental violations from the skies. Equipped with cutting-edge thermal technology, the drones are capable of detecting emissions and other forms of pollution from industrial units, brick kilns, and unauthorized dumping sites.
According to department officials, the project has also created a GIS wing with specially trained personnel to manage and interpret the data collected during aerial operations. These efforts are being implemented with the objective of not only catching environmental offenders but also evaluating the on-ground performance of field teams—an element that DG Sheikh says is crucial to ensuring transparency and accountability in enforcement. Imran Hamid Sheikh said:
“We are entering a new era of environmental governance. The Hawk Eye Project will allow real-time monitoring of air quality, illegal activities, and enforcement gaps. Through e-mapping of all industrial units and brick kilns across the province, we are making it impossible to pollute without consequence.”
During its inaugural flight over Lahore’s Mehmood Booti area, the GIS wing identified three active pyrolysis plants—a method often used to illegally process industrial waste. A comprehensive report was immediately submitted to the DG Environment, and an inquiry was ordered to determine how the operations escaped local detection. Additionally, drones spotted four more industrial units and a suspicious open plot filled with carbon sacks. Environmental experts warned that such carbon accumulations pose a serious threat to both air and soil quality and require immediate intervention.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised the launch of the initiative, calling it a “defining moment” in the province’s environmental and climate change strategy. In a statement shared on her official account on X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister highlighted the project as part of a broader “smart environmental protection force.”
“This is a bold leap toward a cleaner, greener, and climate-resilient future. With drone surveillance, real-time AQI monitors, mobile labs, and specialized squads across key sectors—including industry, agriculture, transport, water, plastic, and fuel—Punjab is taking the lead in rapid environmental response and sustainable air quality enforcement.”
Officials say the project is also part of Punjab’s broader commitment to national and international climate change goals. By introducing intelligent surveillance and data-driven enforcement, the province aims to reduce industrial emissions, curb illegal waste disposal, and hold polluters accountable with irrefutable evidence.
While challenges remain, particularly in scaling operations to cover all major districts and improving inter-departmental coordination, the Hawk Eye Project is already being hailed as a significant innovation in environmental governance. It reflects a broader shift in Pakistan’s approach to ecological issues—where technology is becoming an indispensable ally in the fight against climate change and pollution. As the project evolves, the EPD plans to integrate AI-based analysis, expand drone fleets, and collaborate with local universities and research institutions to ensure evidence-backed policy recommendations.
