ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s 100-day plan for Punjab encompasses many reforms in education, health, housing, and environment sectors.
Tackling the issue of smog on priority, Punjab government has divided the province in three zones to cater to the worsening environmental condition.
These zones are categorized as Green, Yellow and Red, according to Environment Protection Department of Pakistan.
Authorities related to environmental protection in Punjab announced that the “Brick Kilns” using imperfect fuel would not be allowed to operate anymore; however, those who follow the suggested zig-zag technology can continue their operations.
The green zone comprises districts of Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujrat, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Khushab, where no brick kilns will be shut down.
The red zone includes Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Narowal where no brick kilns will be allowed to operate.
In the yellow zone, authorities will take action according to the smog formation. This zone includes Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Lodharan, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Pakpattan, Vehari, Jhang, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh districts.
Every year, with the start of winter season, smog causes chaos in many parts of Pakistan — mostly in Punjab and in its densely populated provincial capital, Lahore.
Meanwhile, in further efforts to revamp Punjab province, city administration has been requested not to sell fuel to bikers without helmets.
The Punjab traffic police suggested wrote a letter to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore on Saturday to have the city administration take petrol station owners on board in this drive.
The step aims to protect people from accidents and air pollution.
Government sets eyes to revamp Punjab
Government sets eyes to revamp Punjab
- Authorities divide Punjab into three zones to counter environmental issues
- Bikers without helmets to be refused fuel at petrol stations
Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’
- Pakistani driver killed on Saturday as debris falls on vehicle in Al Barsha area, confirms Government of Dubai Media Office
- Iran has targeted Gulf countries hosting US troops with missile, drone attacks since Middle East conflict began last week
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national was killed this week after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday.
The incident took place in Dubai’s Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media platform X, without confirming the location from where the projectile was fired from.
“Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver,” the Dubai Media Office said.
This is the second Pakistani national killed in the UAE since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. As per local media reports, a Pakistani national died in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28 after being struck by missile fragments.
Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among six people injured by falling debris on Thursday after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted drones, the Abu Dhabi Media Office had confirmed in a statement.
Iran has carried out several missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries hosting American troops since Isreal and the US launched coordinated strikes against it last week. The surprise attack came after months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Pakistan has asked its citizens in Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries ever since tensions escalated in the region last week.
The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest communities of overseas Pakistanis worldwide.
Pakistan has condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran but also criticized Tehran’s attacks that have targeted countries in the Gulf region, advising all parties to exercise restraint.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to Gulf neighbors for the attacks, saying Tehran would halt strikes unless attacks against Iran originate from their territories.
However, questions were raised over the apology as air defense sirens and interceptions were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain later on Saturday, fueling uncertainty across the Gulf.
