Tag: air pollution

  • Smart lockdown fails as Lahore remains on top in Air Quality Index

    Smart lockdown fails as Lahore remains on top in Air Quality Index

    Despite the efforts of the caretaker government of Punjab to curb smog, Lahore is still one of the most polluted cities in the world.

    After three days of holidays and a smart or soft lockdown, Lahore’s hazardous smog has barely dissipated.

    Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi posted an update on Saturday about the trend of smog tending towards healthier.

    The average air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was recorded at 356 (hazardous) on Sunday while the maximum was 444 at 3 am.

    The government completely closed vehicular traffic on Mall Road for a day but the effort seemed futile as the AQI around the road was 458 in the morning while AQI in the DHA Phase 8 was 437, in Gulberg it was 412 and in Johar Town, it stood at 402, reports Dawn.

    As of today, the air quality index of Lahore was recorded at 415 (extremely hazardous) around 10 a.m. and by the evening, when this report is being filed, it is standing at 305 (hazardous).

    While Mall Road was totally barricaded, some markets and shops were found open despite restrictions till 4 pm on Sunday and people were thronging food points in Liberty Market, Ichhra and Anarkali Bazaar.

    Netizens criticised the Punjab government for a lack of effective steps to counter smog.

    A user posted about it being attributed to the endless construction in the city while others complained about it being lethal for citizens.

  • Anti-smog crackdown intensifies: Rs129 million fines issued to violators

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has been apprised through a comprehensive report detailing the robust measures taken by the Punjab government to address the smog issue. The report highlights the imposition of fines totalling Rs129 million on violators as a strong deterrent against activities contributing to air pollution.

    The report outlines that 6,700 units were sealed for violating smog-related restrictions. Over a three-month period, authorities inspected approximately 60,000 small and large units, resulting in the closure of more than 6,700 units due to violations.

    During this crackdown, 540 cases were registered against those contributing to smog, leading to the arrest of 118 individuals.

    The report highlights the sealing of 735 smoke-emitting factories in the Lahore division and the closure of 187 brick kilns during the smog control initiative.

    Fines amounting to Rs8.6 million were imposed for burning crop residue, and 216 cases were registered against those setting fire to crop stubble.

    Despite these efforts, the air quality index (AQI) of Lahore, initially recorded at a hazardous level of 371 in the morning, later dropped to around 211 in the afternoon. This shift caused Lahore to fall to the third position on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, a noteworthy change from its consistent first and second positions in recent months due to high levels of air pollution.

    Specifically, Polo Ground Cantt and Phase 8 DHA were identified as the most polluted areas within the city, with AQIs of 291 and 259, respectively.

  • Artificial rain in Lahore to cost Rs 350 million

    Artificial rain in Lahore to cost Rs 350 million

    As Lahore battles with hazardous levels of smog, Punjab has been mulling artificial rain to dispel toxic pollution. The Punjab government has planned to carry out cloud seeding in Lahore to cause artificial rain, estimated to cost a whopping Rs 350 million.

    A summary for the same has been moved to the finance division.

    Earlier this week, Chief Meteorologist Chaudhry Aslam said that artificial rain is expected in Lahore next month and preparations are underway as the government raises its efforts to curb smog, reports The News.

    On Friday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air hit 269, considered very unhealthy, according to Swiss-based IQ Air. “PM2.5 concentration in Lahore is currently 43.8 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.”

    In a press conference, Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir said that the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, wants to experiment with artificial rain during the current year. In this context, he announced, “Chinese experts will soon visit Pakistan.”

    Lahore and other cities of Punjab have been engulfed by heavy smog in the past month or so turning into a “poisonous gas chamber” where citizens continue to face serious health problems. Artificial rain is the most effective solution to reduce the toxicity of the air.

    To know more about cloud-seeding: How does the artificial rain happen?

  • How does the artificial rain happen?

    How does the artificial rain happen?

    As smog spreads across Punjab, causing a potential health hazard, the caretaker government of the province is considering artificial rain to combat the toxic pollution.

    Cloud formation

    To make artificial rain, there need to be clouds. Experts are saying that they can find these clouds and then use a process called cloud seeding to make it rain.

    Cloud seeding is like giving clouds a little push to make them release rain. Scientists found out about the process in 1946, when they discovered that by using a special mix of silver iodide and dry ice, they could make clouds produce more ice and eventually rain.

    Nowadays, we still use silver iodide and dry ice for cloud seeding, but we’ve gotten better at it. The meteorological department in Pakistan has already tried it out successfully. Other countries, like Gulf nations, also use artificial rain.

    In the United Arab Emirates, scientists are trying a new method, using water-absorbing salt flares. These flares release tiny salt particles into the air, which activate the clouds and speed up the rain-making process. It’s like a high-tech way of helping nature create rain when it’s needed.

    Why is artificial rain important?

    Artificial rain is important because it can help clear out the smog in cities. When it rains, it washes away the pollutants in the air, making it easier for people to breathe and improving overall air quality. It’s a smart solution to a serious problem.

  • Schools, colleges to be closed in Punjab on Friday, Saturday

    Schools, colleges to be closed in Punjab on Friday, Saturday

    The caretaker government in Punjab has announced a long weekend off due to uncontrolled toxic smog. The Punjab Cabinet Anti-Smog Committee has announced the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities on Friday, while markets, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and factories are to be completely shut on Saturday as well.

    Restaurants will also be told to close for dine-in on Saturday with permission to be granted only for takeaway and home delivery. The government identified six districts that are stricken by smog the most. These are Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal and Sargodha.

    The meeting also proposed limiting public and private vehicles in Lahore, they said, adding that in government offices, only half of the employees will be asked to come to work.

    “Only cycles will be allowed till five in the evening on Lahore’s Mall Road,” added caretaker Chief Minister Punjab.

  • Lahore High Court orders two-day work-from-home policy for private sector

    Lahore High Court orders two-day work-from-home policy for private sector

    Lahore High Court has directed the caretaker Punjab government to implement two days weekly off for all educational institutions till January next year, along with a two-day work-from-home policy for the private sector.

    In reply to a plea seeking the court’s intervention in tackling smog in the province, the court released a three-page long order.

    In a bid to counter deteriorating quality in Punjab, the caretaker government on Sunday made it mandatory for all citizens to wear a face mask for a week in the smog-hit districts of the province.

  • PHA becomes first government department to give electric bikes to employees

    PHA becomes first government department to give electric bikes to employees

    The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) of Lahore has become the first government department to distribute eco-friendly electric bikes to its workforce. The first batch will be distributed on Monday.

    PHA has taken the step in order to combat air pollution in Lahore which is at an all-time high since a few weeks. 25 e-bikes are to be given to the employees.

    The Electric Vehicles Policy of Pakistan 2020-2025 also emphasised on providing incentives to promote local production of e-vehicles, with the ultimate goal of capturing a substantial share of the market.

    The PHA has also undertaken a city-wide plantation drive, sowing millions of plants in far-flung as well as central Lahore neighborhoods to increase the green cover of the city.
    Just last month, it entered into a partnership with a foreign business group to plant a million trees.

    The Lahore High Court has already told the government to give bicycles to all government servants so that pollution and deadly smog could be curbed.

  • What is the situation of Air Quality Index in South Asia?

    What is the situation of Air Quality Index in South Asia?

    Six of the top ten cities plagued by the worst pollution on the Air Quality Index are from the South Asian region. Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata from India, Lahore and Karachi from Pakistan, and Dhaka from Bangladesh.

    Post-Diwali, the air quality index in India is pretty bad as three of its highly-populated cities are facing a rise in air pollution. While Delhi is at the top, Mumbai and Kolkata are competing closely for the sixth and seventh spot on the chart.

    Lahore has seen a major drop in the past few days after a short spell of rain, however, the air is steadily getting dense as it retained its second position in the chart for two days in a row. Karachi holds the fourth spot after Baghdad.

    The Capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is a relatively new entrant. It holds the tenth position with an “unhealthy” status in air quality.

    Population growth and rapid industrialization are the two major factors contributing to the thickening of air with particulate pollutants in South Asia. This is a threat to all living beings, from animals to plants. Life expectancy is severely reduced in these cities and pollution-related illnesses are rampant. The situation of the poor quality index calls for strict action to be taken for the safety of residents of the world’s most populous region-South Asia.

  • Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Justice Shahid Kareem of the Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the caretaker provincial government to close all educational institutions on Saturdays across the province. The judge also ordered that work-from-home-policy be enforced two days a week for offices. 

    The ruling was passed during a hearing of a petition pertaining to the measures taken by the Punjab government to control air pollution. “Commissioner Lahore has failed completely in controlling smog. He talks big but nothing happens on the ground. Just a notification is issued to shut everything,” he reprimanded the authorities of Lahore. 

    “Videos of crop residual burning being shared are very disappointing,” Justice Karim said, ordering the instant removal of deputy commissionaires in Sheikhupura, Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana and Bahawalnagar, citing the deteriorating situation of smog in these districts. He ordered the Chief Secretary to immediately issue a notification to transfer the aforementioned officers. 

  • Punjab govt aborts smart lockdown plan after rain improves air quality

    Authorities in Punjab have lifted a ‘smart lockdown’ from Lahore and other cities after Friday morning brought in rain, dramatically improving air quality.

    Within the provincial capital, rainfall was recorded across various regions, including Gulberg, Garden Town, Iqbal Town, Multan Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Jail Road, Mall Road, Johar Town, Canal Road, and Raiwind Road.

    The government of Punjab has lifted the smart lockdown enforced in the city, with caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announcing on Twitter, “Markets open tomorrow, and restaurants can resume operations after 6 pm. The recent restrictions related to SMOG will be lifted from tomorrow morning.” This will be effective from today.

    The weather has become considerably cooler, providing a much-needed break from the toxic smog that had engulfed the air. However, the average air quality index is 182 but in certain parts of the city, including Cantt and DHA Phase 8, the numbers are higher than in other areas.

    It is important to note that this stroke of luck could be very short-lived as the dire condition of air quality in Lahore requires stringent measures to be taken.