ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province has issued an emergency alert for citizens in the eastern city of Lahore due to rising levels of smog, calling on people to implement safety measures as the soaring pollution threatens people’s health, state-run media reported on Tuesday.
Smog is particularly bad in winter due to low-grade fuel from factories and vehicles in the megacity of 14 million. During the winter season, denser cold air traps emissions at ground level while seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on Lahore’s outskirts is also a major contributing factor to the prevailing smog.
Lahore grabbed headlines on Monday after it topped global pollution charts with its air quality index (AQI) hitting an unprecedented 707 around 10 am local time (0500 GMT), with the Switzerland-based air quality watchdog IQAir categorizing the air quality as “hazardous.”
“Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has issued an emergency alert for citizens in Lahore due to the rising levels of smog and appealed for implementation of safety measures,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Aurangzeb advised citizens to wear masks while going outdoors, urging children, elderly citizens and individuals with heart and respiratory conditions to avoid going outdoors.
“She said that the smog in Lahore is being exacerbated by strong winds bringing pollution from Indian cities such as Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh,” the state broadcaster said.
The Punjab minister warned that stern action will be taken against people found burning crop residues while smoke-emitting vehicles will be impounded. She urged citizens to report violations by calling on 1373 number or through the ‘Green App.’
The provincial government this week altered timings for all public and private schools due to the smog condition in Punjab. The Punjab Environmental Protection Authority stated in a notification that from Oct. 28 to Jan. 31, schools in the province will begin at 8:45 am while morning assemblies will be held indoors to reduce students’ exposure to hazardous air.
