Govt decides to spray water to curtail smog in Lahore

Lahore: The local government has decided to spray water at various places in the provincial capital Lahore to curtail rising air pollution and smog.

According to the details, the commissioner Lahore said that sale of Euro 2 petrol will be banned in view of the measures taken to deal with smog and for a month only Euro 5 petrol will be supplied in Lahore while action will also be taken against vehicles emitting smoke.

During the hearing of the petition regarding smog prevention measures in the Lahore High Court, the Chief Traffic Officer Lahore had declared smog to be a bigger issue than dengue and corona, to which Justice Shahid Karim said that immediate action must be followed by the government to control prevailing smog. 

On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar in his statement said that Deputy Commissioners have been given necessary powers to monitor the measures taken to control smog.

He said that strict ban on burning of tires in factories would be ensured and strict ban on burning of crop residues would be strictly enforced.

Usman Bazdar said that the environment department, administration and concerned agencies should ensure implementation of the plan formulated to deal with the smog situation and action should be taken against polluting industries, vehicles and brick kilns under the law.

The AQI Index of Lahore was recorded above 500 throughout last week. At one point, the provincial capital was declared the most polluted city in the world as well.

The crisis seems to be tightening its vice around Lahore as the weather changes. Other cities most affected by air pollution include Sahiwal, Faisalabad, and Raiwind.

Today, an Air Quality Index of 370 was recorded in Lahore early morning and was deemed hazardous.