Peshawar : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed a bill granting brick kilns the status of an industry. The bill was presented during the provincial assembly session by Special Assistant for Industries Abdul Karim.
According to the bill, brick kilns will now be officially recognized as an industry, and no person will be allowed to operate a kiln without proper registration. The Directorate General of Industries and Commerce has been designated as the registration authority.
As per the new law, all existing kilns must be registered within 120 days. Before establishing a new brick kiln, obtaining a registration certificate will be mandatory. Kilns that fail to adopt environmentally friendly technology will not be registered. Additionally, kilns located near schools, hospitals, transmission lines, or forests will not be granted registration.
Violations of the Brick Kiln Act could lead to penalties, including up to six months of imprisonment and fines of up to PKR 200,000. The bill also mandates the annual renewal of the registration certificate, and authorities will have the power to shut down kilns operating without certification.
In case of penalties, kiln operators can file an appeal before the appellate authority within two months.
The passage of this bill marks a significant step toward regulating brick kiln operations while ensuring environmental compliance and public safety.
