ISLAMABAD: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday announced the provincial government had launched a 10-year smog mitigation plan, as record-high air pollution levels have triggered hundreds of hospitalizations, school closures and stay-at-home orders in several districts of the Pakistan’s most populous province.
On Friday, the provincial capital of Lahore, home to 13 million people, had the worst air quality of any city in the world, according to live readings by IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company.
Toxic smog has enveloped Lahore and at least 17 other districts in Punjab since last month, where health officials have been forced to close down schools and government offices, among other measures.
“For the first time, Punjab has developed a 10-year climate change policy,” Aurangzeb said while addressing a press conference in Lahore, saying Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was “personally” monitoring the plan’s implementation.
Pakistan, like neighboring India, battles pollution each year as temperatures fall and cold air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke as farmers illegally burn paddy stubble to clear fields. Prohibited brick-kilns and smoke-emitting vehicles also contribute to the problem.
Speaking about measures taken to combat air pollution, the minister said the Punjab government had distributed super seeders to farmers, bearing 60 percent of their cost while farmers paid the remaining 40 percent. The no-till planters are designed for precision seeding which helps farmers contribute to cleaner air, improved soil health, and a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
“We have an aim of distributing 5,000 super seeders in Punjab by July next year,” the minister said. “We have now engaged more companies to increase production of super seeders.”
Aurangzeb also said authorities had demolished 800 brick kilns.
“We did not seal them this time because they would begin operating again from January if they were only sealed,” she added.
The minister said environmental control systems to detect smoke had been set up through loans provided by the Punjab government.
“More than 90 small and medium sized industries have installed the system using this loan,” she said, encouraging people to help with the afforestation of Lahore.
“Forest cover of Lahore should be 36 percent on international standard, it is 3 percent now,” Aurangzeb said. “Green master plan of Lahore has been made. Implementation has started. Forest cover is planned to be increased, which is a part of this plan.”
Earlier this week, the government of Punjab closed all high schools in the province until Nov. 17 due to persisting smog.
Primary schools and government offices had already been closed until Nov. 17 in many districts of Punjab earlier this month, with school closures likely to affect the education of more than 20 million students, according to associations representing private and government schools.
Authorities in 18 districts of Punjab also closed all public parks, zoos and museums, historical places, and playgrounds for ten days last week.
On Friday, a court in Lahore ordered the government to shut all markets after 8pm. Authorities have already banned barbecuing food without filters and ordered wedding halls to close by 10pm.
On Monday, the UN children’s agency said the health of 11 million children in Punjab province was in danger because of air pollution.
Pakistan’s Punjab launches 10-year smog plan amid record air pollution
https://arab.news/j4eyv
Pakistan’s Punjab launches 10-year smog plan amid record air pollution
- Government has distributed super seeders to farmers to support precision seeding
- 800 brick kilns demolished instead of being sealed which briefly happens each year
Islamabad launches real-time fuel monitoring system as Iran war rattles oil markets
- Authorities say they will track petrol stocks at 145 stations through City Islamabad app
- Petrol stations in the city are required to upload daily stock data to prevent shortages
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s capital have launched a digital system to monitor petroleum stocks at fuel stations in real time, and official statement said on Tuesday, as the government steps up oversight of supplies following market disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The system has been introduced by the Islamabad district administration days after authorities sealed seven petrol stations for refusing fuel to motorists. It will allow officials to track fuel inventories through the “City Islamabad” mobile application, requiring petrol pump operators to upload daily stock details as authorities seek to prevent hoarding and artificial shortages.
The initiative comes days after Pakistan raised fuel prices sharply and authorities across the country launched crackdowns on hoarding amid fears that escalating conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global energy shipments and push oil prices higher.
“Real-time monitoring will ensure that any shortage of petroleum products can be addressed immediately,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said in the statement announcing the system.
The statement noted the new digital tool would enable authorities to track stock levels at 145 fuel stations across Islamabad and monitor transactions through the mobile platform.
Under the system, petrol pump owners must upload daily stock information, while the district administration has released a tutorial explaining how to use the feature.
Authorities warned that failure to upload stock data could result in action against fuel station owners.
Pakistan has tightened monitoring of fuel supplies in recent days after global oil markets were rattled by United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, which raised concerns about possible disruptions to shipping routes in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy trade.
The government has said it is closely watching domestic supply conditions and international oil markets while taking steps to ensure fuel availability and prevent panic buying.
