By: Mushtaq Raza
The Khewra LCI Soda Ash Factory, while providing employment and participating in welfare activities, has become a source of severe distress for local residents. The factory’s constant and terrifying noise, coupled with the release of toxic gases, has made life unbearable for the people. The noise is so loud that even people standing next to each other cannot hear one another. Students appearing for their F.Sc. exams are struggling to prepare due to the constant disturbance. Small children, who should be enjoying their holidays, are forced to stay awake at night. Even infants are affected. Shopkeepers wait all day for customers, only to find that they have stayed home out of fear of the noise and steam-filled gases. Local businesses are suffering as a result. Previously, the black and white smoke emitted from the factory’s chimneys was a concern; now, the relentless noise from blower machines and their rattling has become a new source of agony. Tourists from Lahore and Islamabad have protested strongly against the environmental pollution, gas emissions, and unbearable noise. The entire city condemns the situation, and several respected citizens have threatened to protest. Currently, the LCI Soda Ash Factory resembles a “white elephant.” It wins over a few individuals by offering them benefits, effectively silencing them. These select individuals praise the factory in exchange for personal gains and incentives, essentially selling their conscience. Whenever a few concerned locals express their outrage on Facebook, they are silent by the next day. Many passionate journalists are blamed, even though they have responsibly raised their voices across every platform. If there is any lack of response, it has been from the public—not the press. A journalist’s duty is to highlight the issue, not to enforce action. Factory officers and employees residing within the LCI premises have reportedly become mentally distressed, while those living nearby suffer from various diseases due to exposure to toxic gases. A factory that claims to champion safety must not compromise human health. City notables including Malik Sami, Malik Maqbool, Mirza Kamran, and Mirza Babar have appealed to senior officials of the Environmental Protection Department, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to immediately take notice and relieve the public from this torment.
