Lahore: As air quality worsens across Punjab, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared smog a serious public health issue and introduced strict steps to tackle it. These measures include a ban on activities that contribute to smog and a province-wide crackdown on polluting industries and vehicles.
According to PDMA Punjab, the banned activities now include burning crop waste, emissions from visibly smoky vehicles, industrial operations without proper emissions controls, stone crushing without air filters, and burning waste materials like tires, rubber, and plastic. The sale and use of low-quality fuels is also banned.
Deputy commissioners have been given the power to act as relief officers to enforce these new rules and help reduce smog levels. Air quality in Punjab, especially in Lahore, has become dangerously poor, with Lahore now ranking as the second-most polluted city in the world and the most polluted in Pakistan. Recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 276.
As part of this anti-smog plan, the Punjab government has banned construction in high-pollution areas, including Queen Mary Road, Shimla Pahari, Empress Road, Davis Road, and Kashmir Road. Additionally, barbeque restaurants must now close by 8 p.m., and wedding halls by 10 p.m.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has also advised that special needs students and those with health issues attend online classes instead of going to school in person due to the high pollution levels.
To enforce these measures, the Punjab government has already closed down nine brick kilns and four industrial units that violated the smog rules. The EPA has fined smoky vehicles a total of Rs. 120,000 and is conducting 24/7 digital monitoring of emissions. The EPA also plans to protect the four million trees planted to improve air quality.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting the environment, announcing that tree planting will be required along roadsides for future development projects. She encouraged the public to report smoke-producing activities to hotline 1373, promising that the EPA would respond quickly.
These combined efforts show Punjab’s strong focus on protecting public health as the smog crisis continues to affect millions.
To read latest news of Pakistan and worldwide, click here.