KARACHI: One of the major reasons of smog is burning the residue of a crop (stubble) by farmers/land lords to cheaply clear the land for sowing.

In Agra, the monument of love Taj Mahal, that had been declared world heritage by UNESCO, disappeared on Thursday due to smog caused by stubble burning.

In Pakistan the same stubble burning has worsened the smog condition to the extent that monuments like Badshahi Masjid and Minar-e-Pakistan are difficult to see.

Toxic air from India had further aggravated the smog crisis in Punjab and KP. Due to deadly smog that has engulfed the Province of Punjab, govt has barred public from entering public/private parks, zoos, playgrounds, playlands, historical places, monuments and museums till 17th November.

Primary/Secondary School and Tuition/Coaching Centers will remain closed in the smog affected areas till 17th of November. Nevertheless, all the schools will continue edification online. Furthermore, the administration had made wearing masks mandatory till 31st day of November for those wandering on the roads.

Earlier, Punjab Government had decided to keep the primary schools in the Walled City closed for a week due to deteriorating environmental hazard caused by by smog. The Provincial Govt had ordered that all the classes for children up to the age of 10, public, private & special education shall remain closed for one week.

“In the wake of deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) and in light of order dated 03.11.2024 issued by Director General Environmental Protection Agency Punjab …

“it is notified that all the classes upto 5th grade in all schools (public & private) located in the territorial jurisdiction of district Lahore shall remain closed for one week”.

It is pertinent to mention here that millions of children and the vulnerable populace are at risk of inhaling air that is (1000) several times above the dangerous level (i.e: 300).

Provincial government, emphasising on dialogue with India, has insinuated that the winds blowing from across the border was making the air quality worse.

The Government of Punjab, while declaring smog as calamity bestowed upon the DC’s powers of relief commissioner enabling them take necessary measures to control and mitigate smog.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had earlier ordered all special education schools in Lahore to send students with conditions/diseases susceptible to poor air on a three-month leave from 31st October, 2024.

The pollution is augmented due to:

Burning any type of crop residue (Stubble Burning);

Vehicles emitting visible smoke;

All industries working without emission control system contributing deterioration in air quality index;

All stone crushers operating without wet scrubbers;

Burning of all types of solid waste tyres, rubber and plastics;

All types of encroachments which cause hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic on public roads including footpaths;

Any kind of parking which may cause hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic;

All types of activities without proper safeguard which contribute in generating dust.

Newspakistan.tv