LAHORE :The smog situation worsens in several parts of the country, with Lahore once again bearing the brunt of the menace.
The average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 347 on Tuesday morning. The particulate matter concentration was recorded at PM2.5 which is much higher than the air quality recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The AQI of some areas in Lahore such as Gulberg and Maratab Ali Road crossed the alarming level of 500 on Tuesday.
A day earlier (Monday), several parts of the city had the AQI level well above 700 which is highly hazardous.
SCHOOL TIMINGS CHANGED
Amid a slew of measures the Punjab government has changed the timings of schools in the provincial metropolis due to worsening smog situation.
The AQI of Lahore was in excess of 500 on Monday morning.
The Schools Education Department said the classes in all public and private schools in Lahore would start at 8:45am from Oct 28. “The timings will remain applicable till Jan 31, 2025,” said a statement of the department.
It said the assembly of children would be held in the classrooms.
The department has also directed the authorities to restrict outdoor activities of the students till the situation improves.
SMOG ALERT
A smog alert has been issued in Punjab as the provincial metropolis tops the list of the most polluted cities in the world.
The 500 AQI of Lahore adds the city to the list of one of the most polluted cities in the world due to toxic smog from India’s Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
Citizens have been advised to take precautionary measures such as using masks while going outdoors, preventing children from playing outside and avoiding travel to heavily polluted areas.
People have been advised to drive carefully due to reduced visibility, especially in the early morning hours and late at night.
HEALTH ADVISORY
Medical experts have advised people to take precautions to avoid flu, skin allergy, eyesore and other related diseases.
Environment experts say the use of substandard fuels such as plastic and rubber, especially in the cottage industry around Bund Road, contributes significantly to the deteriorating air quality.
They claim that the government has failed to take effective measures to tackle the issue of air pollution.
Despite Punjab government’s strict actions to minimise smog, carbon emissions, stubble burning and transboundary pollution are said to be the main reasons for the irritant.
Similarly, LDA and other institutions are doing patchwork of roads in Lahore due to which movement of heavy machinery is a routine.
Most of the heavy vehicles owned by public departments such as LWMC, Wasa, LDA, MCL, C&W etc lack fitness certificates.
Meanwhile, a ban has been imposed on use of fireworks in Lahore till Jan 31, 2025.
CRACKDOWN ON SMOKE-EMITTING VEHICLES
Traffic police have also asked motorists and commuters to exercise caution while driving motorcycles as the visibility in the city is reduced due to rise in smog in Lahore.
The traffic wardens conducted an operation against smoke-emitting heavy vehicles and cars on Monday night, banning all the unfit vehicles from the city.
New Delhi, India’s capital, is usually the second most polluted city in the world during the season. It had an AQI of 239 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Karachi ranked 11th with an AQI of 134.
