In a decisive move to address the deepening smog crisis, the caretaker Punjab government led by Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday declared an environmental emergency in the province.
The emergency was announced during a meeting convened to review the deteriorating smog situation, chaired by Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi himself.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police (IG), concerned secretaries, and senior officials.
During the meeting, it was emphasised that the closure of schools and transportation alone would not be sufficient to combat the hazardous smog conditions.
As a measure to protect the health of students, masks have been made mandatory for all school-going children for a period of one month. The caretaker chief minister reiterated the importance of this decision, emphasizing that the well-being of students is paramount.
Appeal to public
In addition to the school mask mandate, the public has been urged to use masks as well. Citizens are encouraged to take precautions to safeguard their health in the face of the ongoing smog crisis.
Furthermore, in a significant move, the provincial ministers have been instructed to provide assistance to both public and private schools, beginning immediately.
Additionally, orders have been issued to withdraw fines previously imposed on farmers during the smog crisis.
Lahore's disturbing air quality
Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, has been grappling with a perilous air quality situation, with the air quality index (AQI) surpassing dangerous levels.
Currently, Lahore is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. The average AQI in Lahore has surged to a staggering 436, leading to complaints from residents about breathing difficulties and burning eyes.
To put this in perspective, the AQI in Lahore now exceeds that of New Delhi, India (316), Baghdad, Iraq (244), Indonesia (177), China (176), and Calcutta (186). Such an elevated AQI poses serious health risks to the local population.
Anti-smog efforts underway
Meanwhile, Commissioner Lahore, Muhammad Ali Randhaoki, has initiated anti-smog operations across the entire division, focusing on Lahore. These operations target various sectors and have resulted in stringent measures against polluters.
Notably, all 1090 kilns in Lahore division have been instructed to adopt zigzag technology. A total of 178 furnaces will face closure for violating the zigzag directive. To date, 97 FIRs have been lodged against kilns for non-compliance with zigzag technology across the entire division, leading to a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
