The Punjab government has announced the formation of an Environment Commission in view of the haze in the province.
Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced that schools and offices across the province will remain closed on Saturday (November 18) as authorities stepped up their efforts to curb smog.
Today the concentration of PM 2.5, or smaller particles, in the air reached 195, which is considered unhealthy – and during the week it also reached 400, which is considered hazardous.
Naqvi’s announcement at a press conference in the provincial capital came days after Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim on Monday ordered the government to close all schools and colleges in Punjab on Saturday as provincial authorities failed to prevent smog .
Pakistan’s second-largest city, with a population of 11 million, has been repeatedly ranked as the world’s most polluted city. People have been advised to stay at home and wear masks, with many residents having trouble breathing.
Last week, smog-affected areas of the province observed a four-day holiday from Friday to Sunday and some businesses were also asked to close, but were later allowed to operate as rain reduced the smog. Was.
“Air pollution is increasing due to smog,” Naqvi told reporters, pointing out that 90% of winter crop burning occurs in Pakistan and 10% occurs in Pakistan – a major contributor to smog.
To deal with this, the interim Chief Minister said that farmers will be helped in purchasing modern machinery. “We are also taking other measures to prevent smog.”
