Lahore, Oct 30 (PTI) Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday called for united efforts with the Punjab province of India against what she described as the common enemy ‘smog,’ saying it is “not a political but a humanitarian issue.” The provincial government also imposed a ‘Green Lockdown’ in different parts of Lahore for the first time to mitigate the impact of rising smog.
Addressing a Diwali event here, the chief minister said: “I have already stressed about having diplomacy with India on the smog issue. I am thinking of writing a letter to the Indian Punjab Chief Minister (Bhagwant Mann) to tell him that this is not just a political issue but a humanitarian one.” “Until both Punjabs come together, we will not be able to tackle the smog issue,” she said on a day when her provincial government issued a smog alert following an abnormal dip in the air quality of Lahore, which also affected the visibility here.
She reiterated her call for climate diplomacy with India saying people on both sides of the border will benefit from this initiative (if taken together).
“As we are taking steps to address this issue, there should be a matching response from India. The winds don’t know there’s a political border in between,” she said.
Last week, her government said it has planned artificial rains to mitigate the impact of the smog after Lahore faced an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 394. However, there has been no announcement of any date.
According to IQAir, Delhi ranked top with Lahore just six points behind it on Wednesday.
The hazardous smog has led to widespread health issues among the city residents, including coughing, breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and skin infections.
Smog – the moniker for combination of smoke and fog – is a specific phenomenon that occurs when certain polluting microparticles mix with cold, moist air and hang close to the ground, reducing visibility and causing health issues.
The smog alert by her government has forecast polluted air is set to travel from Amritsar, New Delhi and Chandigarh in India.
Meteorology plays an important role in determining the level of air pollution in north Pakistan, just as it is a major factor in the neighbouring region of northwest India.
After the rainy season crops are harvested, farmers from both sides tend to burn stubble adding to the existing causes of pollution caused due to industrial emissions and transport.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the ‘Green Lockdown’ imposed in 11 areas identified as air pollution hotspots of the city is aimed to address the smog issue.
Under the ‘Green Lockdown’, all construction activities within a one kilometre radius and surrounding areas will be strictly prohibited, and the use of commercial generators will be banned.
The ban also includes preventing Chingchi rickshaws (those that run on unclean fuel) into these zones; ban on open barbecue activities after 8 pm; restrictions on heavy transport vehicles, and 50 per cent of office employees to work from home.
The minister also spoke about a “wall of trees” to curb carbon emissions and increase oxygen levels.
Lahore has been among the most polluted cities of the world for the last week or so. PTI MZ NPK NPK
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