Pakistan plans artificial rain to deal with smog

Lahore: Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that artificial rain could be carried out next year to minimize the effect of smog in Punjab province especially in Lahore.

According to details, PM's Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam shared the plan of artificial rain saying that it could be carried out two to three times in the next year.

“We are currently studying the phenomenon as it is the need of the hour to deal with the issue,” the prime minister’s aide said.

Malik Amin Aslam said that 40 percent of the smog was caused owing to smoke emitted from transport and that is why the government is shifting fuel from Euro-II to Euro-V.

“We are also taking action against smoke-emitting vehicles,” he said and added that the use of electric vehicles would also help in curtailing the pollution.

He said that government is taking measures to deal with the smog situation. All countries in the region should work together to deal with the challenges of climate change.

Earlier on Friday, the Punjab government imposed hefty fines against violators contributing to the smog situation in the province, especially in Lahore.

The decision to impose fines was taken during a steering committee meeting on smog headed by relief commissioner Babar Hayat Tarar.

The committee decided to impose a fine of Rs2000 on smoke-emitting motorcycles and four-wheelers besides also charging a fine of Rs50000 against those involved in burning their harvest or smoke-emitting brick kilns. Any factory found emitting smoke would also be fined Rs50000.

The steering committee meeting also directed the provincial departments to minimize the use of official vehicles to 50 percent to counter prevailing air pollution.