Lahore
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab province, announced plans to write to Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab on Wednesday, requesting cooperation to combat the severe smog affecting the region. Lahore has recently been declared the most polluted city in the world, with air quality levels surpassing 900 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) earlier this week.
Maryam Nawaz stated, “The air knows no borders. Smog is hurting both sides of Punjab. This is not a political matter; we need to work together to handle this issue.” She emphasized the humanitarian aspect, noting that the smog is impacting residents on both sides of the border.
The AQI in Lahore peaked at 708 on Monday night, with PM 2.5 levels reaching 431µg/m³, significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines. The provincial government has issued an emergency alert, advising citizens to stay indoors and wear masks if they must go outside. Changes to school timings have also been implemented to ensure the safety of children.
Authorities are taking strict measures, including clamping vehicles that emit smoke and shutting down brick kilns that do not use zigzag technology. The smog crisis has affected not only Lahore but also nearby cities such as Kasur, Sheikhupura, Muridke, and Gujranwala, leading to arrests of farmers for burning paddy stubble.
In contrast, Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior provincial minister, attempted to blame India for the situation, claiming that smog from Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh is contributing to Lahore’s air quality issues. Meanwhile, the AQI in Amritsar remains below the 200-mark this week.
