Fears of increasing smog, government appeals to citizens to be environmentally cautious and join Clean Punjab

In view of the growing concerns of air pollution, the Punjab Environment Department has issued a new advisory for citizens, appealing to the public to be part of the Clean and Green Punjab vision and take precautionary measures to reduce smog.

According to the Smog Warning System, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 123 on Wednesday morning, which falls in the moderate pollution category. However, officials say that traffic pressure and smoke emitted from vehicles can lead to an increase in the pollution rate in the air.

Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the smog control plan is being strictly implemented, while field monitoring orders have been issued to the traffic police and district administration to control the spread of air pollution.

The advisory recommends the use of environmental masks by motorcyclists and a slight change in working hours for offices and educational institutions to reduce traffic pressure.

According to environmental experts, smoke accumulates near the ground due to a drop in temperature, which makes it difficult for citizens to breathe. Citizens have been instructed to avoid traveling during rush hours, keep the engine off and ensure maintenance of vehicles.