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Smog levels in Lahore have surged to dangerous levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a staggering 1,067 early in the day. In comparison, Delhi, which is second on the list, has an AQI of 228, significantly lower than Lahore.

The visibility limit in Lahore has also reached zero.

The Current reached out to Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who is leading the mission to combat smog. She claimed that the sudden surge in smog levels is the consequence of the change in wind direction, which has caused smog levels to decrease in Delhi while surging in Lahore.

The meteorological department had “warned the citizens that the intensity of smog will continue in Lahore for the next 48 hours,” she quoted in an official statement.

The minister further backed her claims by acknowledging that “NASA has released an aerial image of smog from large-scale burning of crop residues in Indian regions.”

The air pollution level in Lahore was previously at 157 as a result of the change in wind direction, but over the last five days, it has risen to an unprecedented level, as mentioned in her press release.

The high-speed winds from India also brought smoke into Pakistani areas, regarding which Marriyam Aurangzeb appealed to citizens not to leave their homes unnecessarily.

She also mentioned that the wind is slowly shifting to the south, which will improve air quality in the provincial capital.

The Current reached out to the Secretary of the Environment Department of Punjab, Raja Jahangir, who described at length the steps taken by the government so far and the situation on the ground.

The sudden surge of smog in Lahore can be attributed to the “Eastern Wind Corridor” and some local practices.

“The cropping mechanism, agricultural practices, mindset and behaviour of the farmers from both India and Pakistan are same. They burn the stubble after the harvesting of rice,” Jahangir elaborated.

“The thermal scanning of NASA’s satellite is the proof which shows both sides of the border red,” he said.

According to Jahangir, this change in pattern had been previously predicted. However, it was intensified by the Diwali celebrations, which involved the widespread use of fireworks. The wind has now shifted to the south, affecting air quality in Muridke and nearby areas.

“This will give Lahore a breathing space,” he added.

And while the wind pattern is worsening the smog, some of the local factors can not be ignored.

“Lahore is a city of 15 million, with 4.5 million bikes and 1.3 million cars on roads. There are 6,800 industrial units because it is the fastest growing city in the country and has the most construction sites, as well as more than 1,200 brick kilns,” Jahangir highlighted.

For a city spread over 1,757 square kilometres, the green cover is not enough.

“Ideally, it needs to be more than 30 per cent, but unfortunately, it is not more than four per cent,” he said, further that the smoke emitted from harvesting of 6.6 million of rice given a boost by air pressure is disturbing the air of Lahore while it doesn’t have enough to combat.

“Ideally, it needs to be more than 30 per cent, but unfortunately, it is not above four per cent,” he said, adding that the smoke emitted from the harvesting of 6.6 million tons of rice, combined with air pressure, is contributing to the air pollution in Lahore, which lacks sufficient resources to combat it.

What has the government done so far?

Raja Jahangir emphasised that while smog has been a regular phenomenon in winter for the past 7-8 years, it has always been managed by the environment department. This time, however, the government has engaged multiple sectors, including transport, health, agriculture, and safe city projects, adopting a “whole government approach.”

The smog mitigation plan is a product of this new strategy, supervised by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Jahangir also asserted that phenomena like smog do not have a “quick fix.”

He noted that the government had demolished 600 brick kilns that were not using zig-zag technology and closed down industries emitting high carbon. Furthermore, smoking-emitting vehicles have been impounded while media awareness campaigns have been conducted.

The agriculture department, on the other hand, has given incentives to farmers to use super seeders in efforts to encourage environment-friendly practices, while contracts have been signed with international companies that will convert the crop residue into biofuel and activate the Vehicle Inspection and Certification System. This will test the fitness of vehicles and ensure a zero-tolerance system.

The goal is also to transition public transport, such as buses and trains, to electric, provide electric bikes to students, and convert gasoline vehicles to electric on a large scale.

Additional steps also include a plantation drive across the province to restore green cover.

Jahangir further mentioned the “Green Lockdown,” the latest initiative by the Punjab government, under which restrictions will be imposed on identified smog hotspots to create green zones in these areas.

In these zones, construction is banned, and inspections are being conducted to stop the use of diesel in generators and offices, whereas to reduce traffic, work-from-home is encouraged. Meanwhile, water sprinkling is being carried out to reduce smoke in the air, along with changes to parking areas around the city.

“It is a long battle, and this can’t be sorted in one day. For this, we have to change our practices, and everyone has to contribute to it,” the Environment Secretary asserted.

He also believes that the ultimate solution is “climate diplomacy.”

When asked about the Pakistan Air Quality Experts Group (PAQx)’s collective statement criticising the Punjab government’s Smog Mitigation Plan as “lacking to deal with the scale of the challenge,” Jahangir concluded that, for the first time, “Rs. 10 billion has been allocated to combat smog, with projects worth over Rs. 100 billion budgeted in the current development budget of the province.”

“This is not the end of the story; rather, we have just begun,” he said.