Many cities of Pakistan are under green lockdown because of the increasing pollution levels. The smog crisis in these cities have got worse with an AQI level above 2000. On Saturday, at 12 pm, the AQI of Lahore was reported to be above 1000.
The citizens of Lahore, Nankhana Sahib, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Chiniot, and Gujranwala have been completely banned from visiting the parks, zoos, museums, monuments, or playgrounds because of the high pollution levels. The state government of Punjab has closed all the museums and parks till 17th November in Pakistan.
The government has also declared closure of schools and other educational institutions for the coming 10 days and has also asked the government employees to work from home in 18 districts, including Lahore.
This order got issued by the provincial government's Environmental Protection Agency after Lahore's Air Quality Index reached such extreme levels and crossed the 1000-mark in several areas in Pakistan.
On Friday, Multan, the largest city in southern Punjab, has also recorded an extremely hazardous Air Quality Index of 2,135 between 8am and 9am as per the data of IQAir, reported by Dawn.
Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh has announced the ban that will be effective in the districts of Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari and Khanewal.
According to the smart lockdown imposed by Multan’s Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu, the markets should get closed by 8 p.m. and traffic police should crack down on vehicles that emit excessive smoke.
Industrial and vehicular emissions, stubble burning, and unfavourable weather conditions are the factors that have worsened the smog as per the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD). A major cause of the smog is the smoke that is released during stubble burning after harvest by farmers in Pakistan.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, emphasised on strict enforcement of the new regulations and stated, “People should support the government in the war against environmental pollution.”
Last month, the provincial government had announced that it would consider artificial rains in order to combat the increasing pollution levels. However, no date has been announced yet.