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Smog in Lahore - Is the Punjab government worried about this?

MenInG

MenInG

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Najam Sethi mentioned smog casually but to me that is a serious pollution issue:

https://twitter.com/x/status/924487975861473280

I mean from what I understand smog is a serious thing and most cities would be doing something about it and not take it as a fact of life!
 
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Seriously speaking, how can a world class event be held in a place which has smog? Should be a matter of shame for Punjab Govt.
 
There has been no proper rain for months, and still air, dust and pollution have caused smog.

We are working on coal power plants, and there is no emphasis on reducing pollution or increasing trees.

I guess things are going to get worse.
 
MenInG said:
Seriously speaking, how can a world class event be held in a place which has smog? Should be a matter of shame for Punjab Govt.
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Sir, nobody in Pakistan gives two hoots about Global Warming and Climate Change. If you lived here, you would know how indifferent people have become and how they don't even know the damage they're causing to the motherland. Trees are cut down for fun, no check and balance on excessive pollution being caused by littering, factories, let alone the stopping of rusty cars!
 
ExpressPacer said:
Sir, nobody in Pakistan gives two hoots about Global Warming and Climate Change. If you lived here, you would know how indifferent people have become and how they don't even know the damage they're causing to the motherland. Trees are cut down for fun, no check and balance on excessive pollution being caused by littering, factories, let alone the stopping of rusty cars!
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Every since I have been visiting Lahore, this smog thing is considered like it was fog - no one really cares but today on TV where you could hardly see players, and where UAE made Lahore look like a slum, it hit me how bad things have become.
 
People here use old tyre and rubber as a cheap fuel in small factories. We live in a jungle.
 
FACT: Imran Khan is the only leader who actually cares about the environment. 1 Billion trees planted in KPK.
 
Massive problem with the developing world in general. I mentioned in another thread, residents of Dehli are actually leaving at the onset of winter with Diwali firecrackers adding to the smog created by rapid industrialisation. China, India, Pakistan...you name it, these countries will be polluting the rest of the world with their versions of the industrial revolution.
 
When I visited Pakistan last year, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Lahore/Gujrat, Sargodha/Jehlum, there was SMOG everywhere. Unfortunately, it is true, no one gives a damn about it. Everyone considered it to be fog. I kept on arguing that fog would have water particles, whereas smog wouldn't. Smog can mess with people's health. Lo and behold, 2 weeks later when I was about to leave, i developed this chronic cough caused by smog. Smokers develop this after smoking their entire life. Thankfully I was treated when I returned and things are better since.

People need to take care of the environment. Yes, it hasn't rained, but that doesn't mean you burn every thing and anything to offer.
 
Gets worse every year and no one really cares. Such a shame.
 
"India is responsible for smog in Pakistan's Punjab" : Punjab Environment Protection Minister

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> is responsible for smog in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>'s Punjab, says Punjab Environment Protection Minister Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DunyaUpdates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DunyaUpdates</a>: <a href="https://t.co/bxIZLEEoxU">https://t.co/bxIZLEEoxU</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yg7JpOOCOc">pic.twitter.com/Yg7JpOOCOc</a></p>— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/DunyaNews/status/926395504795242496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smog?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smog</a> will continue for 10 more days, says DG Met<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DunyaUpdates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DunyaUpdates</a>: <a href="https://t.co/bxIZLEEoxU">https://t.co/bxIZLEEoxU</a> <a href="https://t.co/g74Tu4cn1m">pic.twitter.com/g74Tu4cn1m</a></p>— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/DunyaNews/status/926396097072902146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Is se deren mat or humne isko qam kerne ke liay mazeed coal plants lagaane shuru kerdiay hen... PMLN govt

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At least six killed in smog-related incidents in Punjab

LAHORE: At least six people have been killed and 37 injured in incidents resulting from heavy smog in several cities across Punjab, Geo News learnt Friday.

Five people were killed in Kamonki after a passenger van collided with a bus on Friday. The incident left another nine wounded.

A man was killed and five others were injured in a truck-bus collision on the motorway near Jalalpur Bhattian.

A passenger van crashed into a truck in Sheikhupura, leaving 15 people injured. All the wounded belonged to the same family.

In Lahore, four people were brought to hospital, who were injured in a car crash.

Four others were hurt after an oil tanker ran over a motorbike before bumping into a truck in Arifwala.


Health issues

The thick fog blanketing large parts of the province has disrupted routine life by causing adverse effects on citizens' health.

Many people have been forced to stay indoors, especially the elderly citizens, as they face difficulty in breathing, skin and eye irritation, and coughing problem.


Flight disruption

The dense haze caused disruption of three international flights, which were en route to Faisalabad. The flights were diverted to Lahore because of less visibility.

The smog has also been triggering closure of multiple sections of the motorway, primarily during nighttime.

According to motorway authorities, the visibility has dropped down to only 25-50 metres at various places from Lahore to Bhera.

Officials have advised citizens to be careful while driving on highways and motorway, and strongly recommended use of fog lamps.


Visibility in different Punjab cities, according to the Met Office:

Jhang 10 metres

Faisalabad 30 metres

Multan 50 metres

Sahiwal 200 metres

Lahore 300 metres

Khanpur, Nurpur Thal 500 metres

https://www.geo.tv/latest/165948-at-least-six-killed-in-smog-related-incidents-in-punjab
 
Smog not that alarming: govt

LAHORE: As the smog cover over Punjab further thickened to the detriment of public health on Friday and officials saw no immediate relief against it, Environment Minister Zakia Shahnawaz termed it a regional phenomenon being caused mainly by pollutants from neighbouring countries (India).

At a news conference she said there were local contributions (of smog causing particulate matter) but they were lesser than from India where rampant crop stubble burning itself was a huge problem.

Indian farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, start burning paddy stubble by mid-October every year which leads to plumes of smoke blackening the skies. Pakistani Punjab farmers too follow the suit but the ratio of farm fire here is stated to be much less than in India.

A drop in temperature and increase in humidity makes the pollutants remain close to the ground, causing smog that choked many cities in Punjab, including Lahore, for the first time last year.

Environment Secretary Saif Anjum said there was smog over Punjab but its intensity was less than last year when the eye and throat irritation was rampant. Wind too carried pungent smell. Now the situation was not that alarming, he told media persons.

Reports from different cities indicated thickening of fog or smog because of further drop in night temperatures, also causing poor visibility. Lahore, too, remained under a thick blanket of smog throughout the day. It was particularly troublesome in areas where roads have been dug or on the construction path of the orange metro train.

Motorway and National Highway Authority Spokesperson Imran Shah said thick fog blanketed the central and south Punjab last night and on Friday, reducing visibility on the motorway and the national highway from Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan to Bahawalpur (20 metres), Lahore to Pattoki (50 metres), from Bahawalpur to Sadiqabad (100 to 40 metres, from **** Shah Kaku to Kot Momin (100 to 50 meters) and Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad (60 meters).

The Met department said enhanced moisture and lowering temperatures had thickened fog turning into smog by trapping the ever-increasing particle matter.

Official sources said stubble was still being burnt in Pakistani rice growing areas despite a ban under Section 144.

“SUPARCO satellite’s imagery is being restricted by thick canopy of fog or smog. Therefore, the figures showing farm fire in our Punjab may not be correct,” an official claimed.

Minister Zakia Shahnawaz nevertheless blamed Indian farmers for the smog which was causing trouble for them also. They had burnt 35 million ton of paddy residue last year and “are doing so again.”

She said local contributions included emissions from vehicular traffic using substandard fuel, and industrial emissions. But the government was aware of the hazards of smog and was adopting strict measures to control local contributions. The smog policy was also in place engaging all departments to fight the menace.

Mr Saif Anjum said smog had moved towards Attock and Bahawalpur and also beyond New Delhi on the Indian side. Easterly wind was carrying smoke and particulate matter from Indian Punjab to Pakistan. The incursion would be stopped only after reversal of the wind direction.

He said the provincial government was struggling to reduce local pollution contributions. As many as 197 cases had been registered against farmers for burning crop residue under Section 144 and 65 arrested so far. In Lahore alone 175 steel factories had been sealed for burning cheap fuel like used tyres. Cases against defiant owners of 22 factories too had been registered.

He said the agriculture department was creating awareness among farmers on the hazards of burning crop residue, teaching them how to alternately use it instead. Traffic police had challaned 15,718 smoke emitting vehicles in the last one week, realizing Rs 4.6 million fine only in Lahore. Several vehicles were also impounded and fitness certificates of 91 others were cancelled for causing pollution.

Mr Anjum said the EPD had installed five pollution monitoring units in Lahore and was constantly watching the situation.

Prof Ehsan Wahid Rathore of the health department said there was no significant disease development in Punjab due to smog. There was no need of any panic but children and the elderly should be protected against smog as they already were vulnerable to disease in changing weather.

Met Department’s Chief Riaz Khan said dry weather in the past two months was causing smog but its ingredient was less than the last year.

Mr Saif Anjum said brick kilns were generating smoke because of their age-old technology. His department had established a model kiln near Lahore where emissions were zero and the brick quality the highest. This technology would be shared with local brick kiln owners.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed (from London) all departments concerned to take necessary measures to effectively deal with smog.

He has directed that recommendations of experts should be implemented to avoid ill-effects of smog, especially protecting children and the elderly from it. He said all departments had been activated to meet the challenge.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1368299/smog-not-that-alarming-govt
 
PTI volunteers creating awareness on the roads of Lahore...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awareness initiative by PTI workers to avoid diseases caused by smog. Punjab should follow KP’s BTT project. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabDemandsBillionTrees?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabDemandsBillionTrees</a> <a href="https://t.co/K54zSkh4hH">pic.twitter.com/K54zSkh4hH</a></p>— Usman Dar (@UdarOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/UdarOfficial/status/927122505961177088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Well seems that news of the smog has reached the West Indies....
 
WebGuru said:
PTI volunteers creating awareness on the roads of Lahore...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awareness initiative by PTI workers to avoid diseases caused by smog. Punjab should follow KP’s BTT project. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabDemandsBillionTrees?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabDemandsBillionTrees</a> <a href="https://t.co/K54zSkh4hH">pic.twitter.com/K54zSkh4hH</a></p>— Usman Dar (@UdarOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/UdarOfficial/status/927122505961177088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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looks like CPEC bring smog issues to Pakistan as well. If you look at the people of Beijing they all walk around with that mask on because of smog issues. It's weird because I though Karachi might have been more polluted than Lahore.
 
MABA said:
looks like CPEC bring smog issues to Pakistan as well. If you look at the people of Beijing they all walk around with that mask on because of smog issues. It's weird because I though Karachi might have been more polluted than Lahore.
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Smogs always existed in Pakistan, i remember there being smog when i first visited over a decade ago.
 
NEW DELHI: Delhi woke up to a choking blanket of smog today as air quality in the world's most polluted capital city reached hazardous levels.

The US embassy website said levels of the fine pollutants known as PM 2.5 that are most harmful to health reached 703 -- well over double the threshold of 300 which authorities class as hazardous.

"The moment I stepped out of my home I started coughing and there was a burning sensation in my eyes," said Naresh Yadav, a bank employee, as he walked to work in central Delhi.

"The government can't solve this problem alone, people need to pitch in and help the government to protect the environment."

Delhi's air quality typically worsens ahead of the onset of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as inversion.

Firecrackers set off to celebrate the Diwali festival add to the toxic mix created by pollution from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial emissions.

The problem is further exacerbated by the burning of crop stubble by farmers after the harvest in north India, a practice that remains commonplace despite an official ban.

India's Central Pollution Control Board said high levels of moisture in the air and a lack of wind meant emissions had become trapped in the environment.

"Total calm conditions, marked by the complete absence of wind, have led to the situation," Dipankar Saha, a senior executive with the board, told the Press Trust of India news agency.

"The moisture has trapped emissions from ground-level sources."

The hashtag #smog was the top trending topic on Twitter early Tuesday as angry residents demanded stronger measures to curb pollution.

"This is the state of air quality this morning in Delhi-NCR! Horrific!" posted one resident beside a picture of thick smog.

Unprecedented pollution levels this time last year forced schools to shut as authorities scrambled to contain the crisis.

The World Health Organization in 2014 classed Delhi as the world's most polluted capital, with air quality levels worse than Beijing.

A report in the Lancet medical journal last month said pollution had claimed as many as 2.5 million lives in India in 2015, the highest in the world.

Last month an environmental watchdog ordered the shutting down of all diesel generators and the city's lone coal-fired power plant as part of a slew of measures to curb pollution.

https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-woke-up-today-to-a-choking-blanket-of-smog-1772138
 
ISLAMABAD: The dense smog engulfing large swathes of areas in northern Punjab has disrupted the daily routine of the general public as residents have been forced to breathe in extremely toxic air, sparking widespread fears that it may cause a public health emergency in the province.

According to unofficial data, it is estimated that the levels of dangerous particles present in the air has increased dramatically, with the prescribed metric for air quality reading 30 times above the ‘standard safe limit’ over the past few days.

Considering the gravity of the situation at hand, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has initiated a top-priority inquiry into documenting and identifying the major causes of smog over Punjab and other parts of the country.

Officials privy to these developments at SUPARCO told The Express Tribune that Environmental Monitoring and Modeling Division General Manager Dr M Mansha is going to lead the task force assigned for this inquiry.

After investigation, SUPARCO will compile a comprehensive report containing detailed information on the different pollutants present in the atmosphere which are responsible for causing smog.

The report will also contain an analysis of the data regarding urban air quality, wind patterns and other climatic factors related to smog that will help the government devise policies aimed at tackling the menace in the future, according to the officials.

Smog forces locals onto the streets

“This comprehensive study will help Pakistan to get a clear picture of smog, its harmful impact, its intensity; and most of all [it] will help to chalk out a comprehensive plan [on] how to avoid and deal with the issue in the future,” said one of the officials.

Sources in SUPARCO have also expressed concern that even though Pakistan has been facing this issue regularly over the past few years, it has failed to develop a strategy to overcome the problem, and part of that failure is attributed to an inability to identify the major factors that lead up to the occurrence of this meteorological phenomenon.

Monitoring air quality

Climate experts at SUPARCO also believe that Pakistan lacks the data for monitoring air quality of urban areas for extended periods of time.

“India has disclosed the intensity of the smog in some of its major cities by monitoring air quality on a daily basis, but Pakistan has not yet done because of the absence of air quality monitoring data,” a SUPARCO official said.

“Pakistan has six monitoring stations funded by the government of Punjab, but due to the negligence of the government, they are dysfunctional,” former director general Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asif Shuja says.

Imran Khan blames Punjab government for smog

“Currently the impact of climate change in Pakistan is at its peak and there is a need to formulate strategies on a war footing to cope with them, in order to secure are next generation,” he said.

Accidents

So far this year, 21 people have been killed and another 585 have sustained injuries in smog-related road accidents, according to the data collected by The Express Tribune from the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122).

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1556081/1-suparco-lead-inquiry-smog-pollution/
 
Sorry I didn't see this thread and instead commented in the delhi thread. I've got an elderly family member who is landing in Lahore today. Could someone give me an update of the smog situation?
 
Also a problem in Lahore - hope we are keeping an eye on this issue.
 
LAHORE: Smog is once again threatening to choke Lahore and other cities across Punjab, worsening the air quality and making breathing difficult for the residents.

A steady rise in carbon emissions, coupled with a spike in cross-border crop burning, has thickened the layer of smog enveloping the provincial metropolis and other parts of Punjab, reducing visibility and causing flight delays.

Air pollution caused by traffic, industries, crop burning and disposal of solid waste are major contributors to smog. With Pakistan witnessing a steady rise in carbon emissions, and air pollution in the neighbouring New Delhi hitting hazardous levels and blowing across the border, the smog is only expected to worsen in the forthcoming winters unless urgent action is taken, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned.

To reduce the risk of smog, the Punjab government has initiated a project to modernise brick-kilns in the province.

Punjab Environment Protection Department Director Naseem-ur-Rehman told APP that the modernised brick-kilns based on zig-zag technology would not only reduce the production cost of bricks and the fuel charges but also help control air pollution and smog.

He said that 70 to 80 per cent emissions were reduced through the new process. So far, 35 to 40 modern kilns are under construction, he informed.

Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan has articulated serious concerns over trans-border pollution and proposed an independent air quality monitoring body to the president of Air Quality Asia (AQA) – a global advocacy campaign to help national legislative bodies fight air pollution.

Lahore braces for smog as cross-border crop burning spikes

The adviser, in a meeting, apprised the president of AQA, Shazia Z. Rafi, about the deteriorating air quality situation in Pakistan and the steps being taken by the Punjab government to curb the issue. He informed that Pakistan this year had been constantly monitoring the situation whereas an independent institution to examine the cross border air quality would be fruitful to mitigate the smog risk.

What is smog?

Smog, also known as ground-level ozone, is a thick yellowish black fog which suspends in the air. It is caused when air pollution, emissions and fumes combine with fog and sunlight, forming a thick layer of smoke-like film in the atmosphere.

According to experts, emissions from industries and vehicles and cutting of trees worsen the phenomenon.

People may experience short-term skin and respiratory conditions such as eye irritation, coughing, throat/chest irritation and skin irritation as a result of breathing in the air affected by smog.

Health experts recommend artificial tears for eyes as one way of dealing with smog. The public is advised to adopt preventative measures such as avoiding the outdoors and using face masks when going out.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/218082-thickening-smog-threatens-air-quality-in-punjab
 
I was in Lahore a few days ago and the air quality is so poor there. Something needs to be done!
 
Looks like Lahore is suffering from similar problems to Delhi.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1463398/lahores-battle-for-clean-air

I hope one day that all major powers in the region can come together and fight for the environment and public health together much like the European Union has done in recent times - imagine the number of lives that could save. I won't hold my breath though.
 
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Don't understand how Lahore is much more polluted than Karachi.... they have alot more trees and alot more rainfall, with smaller population and lesser industries. Smog flowing from India is the only plausible reason.
 
Gabbar Singh said:
Looks like Lahore is suffering from similar problems to Delhi.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1463398/lahores-battle-for-clean-air

I hope one day that all major powers in the region can come together and fight for the environment and public health together much like the European Union has done in recent times - imagine the number of lives that could save. I won't hold my breath though.
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see what i dont understand is with both countries is why do these companies still use outdated engines for factories. they constantly break down and causes more expenditure. Surely these companies - must know this.

People have to understand in both countries its down to the people to push the laws in immediately- change can only happen this way.
 
Syed1 said:
Don't understand how Lahore is much more polluted than Karachi.... they have alot more trees and alot more rainfall, with smaller population and lesser industries. Smog flowing from India is the only plausible reason.
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there was an article today as to why its not, I think in Dawn.

on comparison between Karachi and Lahore ,coz Karachi has a shore.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Lahore - 2019-10-29 1AM - PM2.5 - 358 AQI - Hazardous <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOSAir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOSAir</a></p>— Lahore_Air (@Lahore_Air) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lahore_Air/status/1188925738860236800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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For reference:

kKNMgj5.png
 
Amnesty International raises concern about air quality exceeding 'hazardous' levels in Punjab

Human rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday said that the government's "failure to protect people from exposure to hazardous air in Punjab risks violating their human rights to life and health".

In a statement, Amnesty International said that the Air Quality Index in Lahore had reached 484 at 10am today, adding that the threshold for "hazardous" levels of air quality was 300, where people are advised to “avoid all physical activity outdoors”.

"During the 'smog season' – from October to January – air quality reaches 'hazardous' levels, as recorded by multiple, independent sources including the air quality monitors installed by the United States Consulate in Lahore and the crowdsourced data collated by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative," the rights group added.

In March, Faisalabad and Lahore were ranked in the top 10 on a list of the world's most polluted cities in 2018. The list was dominated by Indian cities, which took 22 of the top 30 spots, according to a Greenpeace report.

The South Asia Campaigner at Amnesty International, Rimmel Mohydin, said: "The high level of smog is neither a new problem, nor one that came without warning. The government of Pakistan needs to do much more to adequately address such a severe public health crisis — one that endangers people’s health and even their lives."

Mohydin said that air pollution and the climate change crisis are "intricately linked".

"It exacerbates existing inequalities and paves the way for human rights violations. If authorities continue to stall making concerted efforts to address the smog crisis, it will continue to devastate human life.

"There is something very wrong when the air becomes so toxic that you cannot breathe without hurting yourself. The government can no longer afford to waste time while people are choking to death," she added.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1513815/a...-quality-exceeding-hazardous-levels-in-punjab
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alert: At this time, the U.S. Consulate General Lahore’s AQI monitor is reporting PM2.5 pollutants at over 500. Other monitors in the city are reporting even higher levels.<br>This is an extremely hazardous level.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LahoreSmog?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LahoreSmog</a><br>(1/2)</p>— US Consulate Lahore (@USCGLahore) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGLahore/status/1192134988659122176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Smog forces govt to close schools in Lahore today

LAHORE: After a sudden spike in Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) from less than 200 to more than 500 late on Wednesday, the chief minister announced closure of public and private schools on Thursday. This is the first time that smog has forced closure of schools.

Just before midnight, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tweeted: “Due to sudden increase in smog, all schools in Lahore will remain closed tomorrow. We are closely monitoring the #LahoreSmog situation. Administration is already on high alert and have tasked them to escalate actions against crop burning and other factors that contribute to smog.”

As per Lahore US consulate Air Quality Monitor feed, the level of smog was hazardous and at 10pm, Lahore’s AQI was PM2.5 - 580.

Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas was also vigilant about the toxic air. At 9:52pm, he tweeted: “SMOG at abnormally high levels right now in Lahore. Continuously monitoring the situation. Please refrain from taking the kids outdoors unless it is absolutely necessary. Will update.”

It was, however, left to the chief minister to announce a holiday in schools after realising the adversity of the situation.

The itching air, complicating respiratory systems of the people, was alarming by the evening. And for that reason, #LahoreSmog was the top trend on Twitter. Twitter user [MENTION=1877]sana[/MENTION]m_Afridi110 tweeted: “My eyes are burning and I can’t even breathe properly #LahoreSmog.”

As per weather pundits, the sudden rise in smog stemmed from the change of direction of wind, which brought smoke and other pollutants from India. They predicted that rain on Thursday would improve the air quality.

Health experts advised people, especially children and the elderly, to remain indoors and take more liquids.

A group of students have petitioned the Lahore High Court seeking change in the AQI measurement system, and implementation of the Smog Policy.

For the last four years, smog, rightly being called the fifth season of Lahore, has deprived the people of sunshine and dusk-hour charm as layers of toxic smoke engulf horizon from November to February.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1515376/smog-forces-govt-to-close-schools-in-lahore-today
 
Why do I sense a lack of urgency regarding this in Pakistan and the pakistani media? The smog levels are absolutely atrocious in lahore and the Pakistani Air quality Index was 3 times worse than delhi yesterday!!!!
 
As schools in Lahore remained closed on Thursday for the first time due to the prevalence of "smog" in the city, Punjab Chief Meteorologist Mahr Sahibzad Khan said that the current smoke levels should not be confused with "smog".

"Smog components become visible after smoke and fog combine. Until now, the fog has not developed," he said while talking to DawnNewsTV.

"Fog has its own criteria under which it develops: the visibility must reduce to less than 1 kilometre, the humidity levels must be more than 90 per cent, the air must be still and the sky clear. Only then are there chances for fog," Khan explained.

"These phenomena (required for fog) are not currently present. There is smoke, because of car and factory emissions, as well as transboundary smoke coming in from India due to crop burning. So the smoke levels have risen significantly owing to these factors. And there are components in the smoke that raise the air quality index. People start calling it smog, but it isn't. There are alarmingly high levels of smoke, however."

Khan said that it had rained yesterday and there are chances of rain today as well. "The weather is pleasant and it seems it will be tomorrow as well," he added.

Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) appeared to have improved on Thursday from a day earlier, falling to 106 in the late afternoon which is within the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' category.

On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had announced the closure of public and private schools in Lahore today after the sudden spike in smog levels from less than 200 to over 500.

From November 9-12 the city's AQI will be in the 'Unhealthy' category, the daily index shows.

'Terrifying'
Following the unprecedented measure of schools closure yesterday, journalists took to Twitter to express alarm at the constantly rising levels of air pollution.

The head of communications for Amnesty International, Rimmel Mohydin, criticised the government for continuously monitoring pollution levels and "never actually doing anything".

Iman Zia also shared her "smog" experience, saying it had entered her house.

"Barely slept last night from the pounding heaviness from the smog drooping in the bedroom. Also honestly terrifying walking out into the corridor and noticing smoke INSIDE THE HOUSE." she wrote.

Omar Waraich, in response to Chief Minister Buzdar's notification for schools closure due to a "sudden increase in smog" said that the government had had plenty of time to deal with rising pollution levels.

"You had 15 months to deal with this. There’s nothing ‘sudden’ about this environmental crisis that is violating people’s human rights to education, health and even life," he said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department issued an advisory for citizens instructing them to take certain measures to guard against the effects of pollution.

Punjab Environmental Protection Department Director Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Lodhi said that the Punjab government, ahead of November, had decided to close conventional kilns in consultation with the Smog Commission, which had been tasked with identifying the root causes of fog generation and to formulate a policy by prescribing a plan to protect the people's health.

Punjab Minister for Environment Protection Bao Muhammad Rizwan said that the Punjab government has taken several emergency measures to counter smog, including a strict ban on burning crops and solid waste.

He said that last year more than 100 people were arrested for crop burning and this year hundreds of factories have been shut down for not having proper emission-control equipment.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1515457/a...g-engulfing-lahore-punjab-chief-meteorologist
 
It is the previous government’s fault.

It will take time for the PTI to clean up the smog that has been created by the corruption of Nawaz and his family.

We must be patient - in a few years, Lahore’s air be will be cleaner than Iceland’s.
 
Mamoon said:
It is the previous government’s fault.

It will take time for the PTI to clean up the smog that has been created by the corruption of Nawaz and his family.

We must be patient - in a few years, Lahore’s air be will be cleaner than Iceland’s.
Click to expand...

It is PTI's fault.

In 12 months, they have destroyed Lahore's atmosphere via unsustainable development and by cutting down trees en masse.

We need the previous govt. back in charge to fix things! Oops, never mind, this thread is from 2017... :inti
 
There still seems to be limited oversight over crop burning on the outskirts of Lahore, farmers are carrying on unfettered despite being threatened with prison. Until the public starts self-policing there is limited chance of success.
 
14499677067_14e8e5465d_b.jpg


Prime example of extremely poor land use planning by the previous government. What's the point of these gardens? You can literally only see them from a plane or helicopter, and they serve no real function. Instead of gimmicks like this, you could fill spaces like these with trees. It's these little things that help fight air pollution. Even parks like Iqbal Park are filled with grass, where are the trees?
 
When Nariman Qureshi returned to her home in Lahore after a week-long work trip in early November, she discovered her five-year-old daughter Anya had spent two nights in intensive care.

The reason was her asthma, which had flared up severely. For Qureshi, it was the cost she had to pay for living in a city whose air quality is among the worst in the world, and which has spent last week either on top, or among the top five worst cities in the world to breathe in.

"I can't say for sure that we found out about Anya's asthmatic condition due to the worsening air pollution, or that the smog itself caused it, but what I do know is that since the 2017 smog season, she's been on asthma medication. I wonder if we were elsewhere, maybe that wouldn't have been the case," Qureshi says.

Delhi may have been hitting the headlines this week, but by the evening of 6 November, Lahore had taken the title of the world's most unbreathable city - with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 551, forcing the provincial government to announce closure of all schools in the province on Thursday.

In fact, it was the third time in seven days it had topped the table with numbers which, according to America's Environment Protection Agency classification, fall into the "hazardous" category, and defined as "emergency conditions" likely to affect everyone in the area.

However despite Pakistan being ranked second worst for air quality in the world back in 2018, attempts by campaigners to force the government's hand and take some much-needed action have not met with much success.

But things could take a turn for the better for Qureshi, her daughter and rest of the nearly 12 million people living in Pakistan's second largest city if three teenagers achieve what they have set out to do.

On 4 November, Laiba Siddiqi, Leila Alam and Misahel Hayat filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC), requesting the court to declare government's smog policy and action plan "null and void" for being "illegal and unreasonable" and come up with a new plan.

The Chief Justice of the LHC heard the case himself and ordered provincial authorities to appear before the court next Tuesday for a response.

Ms Hayat, 17, a professional swimmer who represented Pakistan in the 2016 South Asian Games, told the BBC that as an athlete who trains outdoors the smog affects her particularly badly and she often finds it difficult to breathe properly.

"For swimmers, your lung capacity and ability to hold your breath is even more important than most other athletes, so knowing that 50% of those exposed to smog of these levels experience reduced lung capacity or that it is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day is not encouraging," she says.

"Every day I and a group of other swimmers, most of them children, exercise outdoors and not all of them wear masks. I fear that if this situation continues in future years, the long-term effects will be much worse than even what we see today."

For 18-year old Ms Siddiqi, another petitioner, the experience of breathing in Lahori air is just beginning. Speaking to the BBC, she expressed her concern that she might not have seen the worst of it.

"I only moved to Lahore in September to pursue my studies and I am afraid that I haven't really fully experienced the worst of the smog yet. But I do see the alarm that permeates Lahori society when it comes to the smog season and the widespread investment in air purifiers and face masks."

The petition challenges the AQI measurement system adopted by the provincial body and accuses it of "underreporting the severity of air pollution".

This misreporting, says 13-year-old Leila Alam, the third petitioner, means she doesn't know "when to wear a mask and when it is all right to go out without it".

Air pollution in Punjab, and Lahore in particular, has long been a menace to citizens and the government has don little in response.

When the Punjab's Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced this week's school closures, Amnesty International's Omar Waraich took him to task, reminding the minister that his government has had more than a year to deal with the crisis.

But some at the top seem unwilling to take any responsibility - including Climate Change Minister Zartaj Gul Wazir.

She and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry both blamed India on Twitter for Lahore's pollution.

Ms Gul Wazir went further - she questioned the AQI data and insisted Lahore's air was "nowhere as bad as being asserted by vested elements".

Sara Hayat, a lawyer with expertise in climate change law and policy and no relation of petitioner Mishael Hayat, says such buck-passing is pointless.

"There should be no contention on whether the smog situation is or isn't a public emergency. The government needn't waste any time disputing this," she says.

She says air pollution is a political issue and the authorities must act.

"The government should stop shifting the blame for smog on India and accept that Pakistan's transportation, poor fuel quality, industrial emissions and agriculture have placed us in a state of smog emergency," she adds.

Ms Siddiqi, who helped organise a march against climate change in the city earlier this year, feels the High Court petition has made the right amount of noise.

"It has definitely helped to start a conversation. I feel our objective of maintaining momentum after the climate march is being achieved," she says.

Ms Hayat, the swimmer, hopes that the petition will force the government to do something.

"Unless we speak up about issues that affect us there can be no change, and this can only be sustained if the public is involved - especially young people," she says.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50333327.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lahore’s AQI was 478 at 11 am this morning. Air quality reaches “hazardous” levels at 300. <a href="https://t.co/OgyCT9FJLP">pic.twitter.com/OgyCT9FJLP</a></p>— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) <a href="https://twitter.com/amnestysasia/status/1196688932680765441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The Environment Protection Department (EPD) of Punjab has directed that brick kilns using "old technology" in the province should be closed from Wednesday.

In a notification dated November 19, the EPD said: "Consequent upon approval of the competent authority, no old technology brick kilns shall operate" in select cities from November 20 till December 20.

The cities in Punjab where kilns using old technology will not be allowed to operate for the next month are Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Okara, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Sargodha, Jhang, Vehari, Hafizabad, Pakpattan, Gujranwala and Sialkot.

The notification, however, stated that brick kilns using "zig-zag technology", a design change that makes more efficient use of fuel, would be allowed to operate.

Director of the Punjab EPD Naseem-ur-Rehman confirmed that the decision to close brick kilns was part of the provincial government's measures to curb smog that has blanketed northeastern parts of the province.

Last week, the provincial government had retracted a similar announcement made earlier of closing down old-fashioned brick kilns in central and northeastern Punjab to control smog currently tormenting people, saying it did not want to "increase the problems of people or render anyone jobless".

However, they have once again announced the closure of the brick kilns.

According to Air Visual, Lahore's air quality was in the 'unhealthy' category on Wednesday morning around 11am with an Air Quality Index (AQI) ranking of 185.

Meanwhile, Indian capital New Delhi is on the top of the ranking with an AQI of 324 in the 'hazardous' category.

For the last four years, smog, rightly being called the fifth season of Lahore, has deprived the people of sunshine and dusk-hour charm as layers of toxic smoke engulf horizon from November to February.

The situation became worse this year as the Punjab government, for the first time, announced the closure of schools due to dense smog. Residents accuse the government of taking insufficient measures to control the situation even as the administration insists that it is making efforts to deal with the smog.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1517824/b...technology-to-be-closed-in-punjab-due-to-smog.
 
Amnesty International on Friday issued an "urgent action" warning for the hazardous smog that has been engulfing Lahore, saying every resident of the city is at risk due to the poor air quality.

The unprecedented step is aimed at mobilising supporters around the world to campaign on behalf of Lahore's population to seek relief from the authorities, the NGO said in a press release.

Lahore topped the list of the world's most polluted cities for the second consecutive day on Friday. Around 8am, the city's air quality was recorded by Air Visual to be 385, which is classified as 'unhealthy'. The Punjab government, for the third time this month, announced the closure of schools due to "dense smog" in three districts, including Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala.

“The government’s inadequate response to the smog in Lahore raises significant human rights concerns. The hazardous air is putting everyone’s right to health at risk,” said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia campaigner at Amnesty International.

“The issue is so serious that we are calling on our members around the world to write to the Pakistani authorities to tell them to stop downplaying the crisis and take urgent action to protect people’s health and lives.”

'Urgent Actions' are a campaigning tool that Amnesty International uses to mobilise support internationally for victims of human rights violations and for prisoners of conscience.

The organisation noted that for one in every two days this month, the air quality in Lahore has been classified as “hazardous” by air quality monitors installed by the United States Consulate in Lahore and the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative. The situation also forced the provincial government to shut schools down on three occasions this month.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore reached 580 at 11pm on November 7. Since the beginning of the month, at least seven days have seen air quality reach hazardous levels.

"Lahore has not had a single day of healthy air this year," Amnesty said, citing information from the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, a citizen-led effort that crowdsources and collates data on air quality.

It noted that in view of the alarming situation, a group of teenage students earlier this month filed a suit against the Punjab government in the Lahore High Court for the “violation of their fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment”.

In the petition, the three students said the government had been downplaying the scale of crisis because its standards of measurement differ from the ones used in other countries and accepted internationally.

“Today, people are not aware of just how much danger they are in because of the air they breathe. If the expertise is available, if the consequences are dire, if the evidence of the damage is mounting, then the government must not waste time.

“A good starting point would be to acknowledge the risks of the quality of air and initiate smog protection protocol as recommended by the court-appointed Smog Commission,” said Mohydin.

For the last four years, smog, rightly being called the fifth season of Lahore, has deprived the people of sunshine and dusk-hour charm as layers of toxic smoke engulf the horizon from November to February.

The situation became worse this year as the Punjab government, for the first time, announced the closure of schools due to dense smog. Residents accuse the government of taking insufficient measures to control the situation even as the administration insists that it is making efforts to deal with the smog.

Government officials blame the smog on crop burnings in India. Experts, however, say that the situation is caused by pollution in the country.
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Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1518073/a...ahore-at-risk-due-to-smog-urges-urgent-action.
 
guys im in lahore now and its terrible, the smoke has made its way into the house and its like someones been smoking shisha with the windows and door shut, every room is like that.
 
Instead of coming out with concrete long-term actions the government is forcing brick kilns to stop working for 18 days. Absurd really.
 
I COULD see the curtain of haze miles away as we drove to Lahore from Islamabad recently. And before I remembered the air mask I had been presented, my throat had begun to itch.

I had been reading about the Lahore smog for weeks, but this was my first recent experience of it. Like much else in Pakistan, we wake up when a crisis is upon us. Editorials and articles are written bemoaning the state of affairs; politicians get on their soapboxes to blame others; and committees are formed to address the problem.

But as soon as the problem recedes, it is back to normal with all the players exhausted by their unaccustomed expenditure of energy. In the case of our annual smog crisis — and it is a crisis — we go through the usual drill before settling back and waiting for a miracle to deliver us of this plague.

In his excellent analysis published in the EOS section of the last weekend’s issue of Dawn, Ahmad Rafay Alam lays some persistent myths to rest. Much of the data here is drawn from his article (‘If you haven’t seen Lahore…’). Abid Omar also contributed to the discussion.

Perhaps the only encouraging thing to emerge from the ongoing debate is the rise in consciousness among the young. Schoolchildren, deprived of their lessons again and again due to school closures caused by smog, are now aware that their health and education are at risk because of environmental factors.

For years, the period between November and January is now semi-officially designated as the smog season. Pakistani politicians, trying to duck their responsibility, point the finger at Indian farmers and their practice of burning rice stubble. But this is a two-way street. Our farmers do exactly the same thing. The problem on both sides of the border is caused by shifting wind direction: in the winter, the ‘westerlies’ bring strong gusts from India to Pakistan, but this can change quickly.

While playing the blame game with India over agricultural pollution, we have closed our eyes to the other causes that contribute even greater amounts of particulate matter. Industry, transport and the power sector pump a whopping 80 per cent of the pollutants in our atmosphere.

Independent power projects, often coal-fired, are some of the worst offenders. Meanwhile, the fuel we import is probably the filthiest in the world. Instead of being at the Euro II standard, we continue to use dirty petroleum products that add to the pollution.

Despite all this harm inflicted on children, the elderly and pregnant women, we continue merrily along our polluting trajectory. Knowing what we do about the health impact of polluted air, we bury our head in the sand instead of tackling the issue with the determination it warrants.

For example, a day in Lahore during peak pollution is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes. Having kicked the habit many years ago, the last thing I need is a high dose of nicotine equivalent. Kids are especially vulnerable to this pernicious air. Their mental and physical development can be impaired, and foetuses can carry this tar when their mothers breathe in this poison.

The Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, or PAQI, has placed a number of air-monitoring devices that report on air quality in Punjab. Instead of welcoming this NGO’s efforts, officialdom asserts that the monitors are unreliable. In that case, the government should install its own.

Thus far, we have treated the problem as specific to Lahore and Punjab. But this impression is belied by the fact that we breathe polluted air across Pakistan. Accor*ding to PAQI data, the number of ‘unhealthy days’ in Lahore in 2018 was 187 against 152 in Karachi and 86 in Islamabad. But Karachi went through 166 ‘sensitive days’ against 88 for Lahore.

Karachi, of course, is often swept clean by its sea air, while the ‘inversion lid’ over Lahore can trap polluted air over the city for days. But make no mistake: we are all inhaling some of the foulest air on the planet.

The Thar coal-fired power project shows how far we are from the international consensus on global warming, and the fallout of the carbon we spew into the atmosphere. Our preoccupation with petty politics blinds us to the larger issues of our times. Until we hold our leaders to account, little will change.

Another issue to consider is the need to cooperate with our eastern neighbour to address these problems on both sides of the border. We do not need to resolve the Kashmir conflict to ensure clean air for Pakistani and Indian children.

So I fear that until the number of the dead and the seriously ill multiplies, little will be done by our politicians and bureaucrats. Once the haze lifts, and life returns to normal, it will be business as usual. Committees will no doubt be formed to make recommendations, but nothing will change until the next smog season.
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Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1518368/ground-zero.
 
Smog hits Lahore amid rain forecast

LAHORE: Hazardous smog that was the worst in the region once again blanketed Lahore on Tuesday, causing eye, nose and throat irritations and aggravating pulmonary diseases.

Smog also lowered temperatures as it continued to block the sun till around 10am.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was all-time high at some places. It was higher even than in Delhi which normally is considered the most polluted city in the northern parts of the subcontinent.

The US Twitter account indicated AQI at Lahore was 567 at 9am, 613 at 10am and 564 at 3pm. The overall average was between 449 and 495.

The Met department said AQI was 553 at 4pm while media reports indicated that it was 455 at Shimla Hill, 400 at Liberty Market, 434 at Upper Mall and 470 at Sundar Industrial Estate.

The Met office said rain and strong winds to be caused by an approaching westerly wave from Iran might clear Lahore and other cities of smog to some extent in the next two to three days.

It said the westerly wave was likely to approach the western parts of the country on Wednesday (today) and expected to grip most parts of the country on Thursday.

Showers expected

Scattered rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in upper districts of Balochistan during Wednesday and Thursday. Light to moderate rain-thunderstorm is also expected in Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazir*abad, Karachi) from Wednes*day (night) to Thursday.

Widespread rain-thunderstorm (with snowfall over hills) is expected in most districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad from Wednesday (night) to Friday.

Isolated heavy falls are also expected in Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Hari*pur, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal and Islamabad on Thursday.

Widespread rain with snowfall over the hills is also expected in Kashmir and at scattered places in Gilgit-Baltistan from Wednesday to Friday.

Fog is likely to subside in the plain areas of the country.

In its daily forecast, the Met department said weather on Tuesday remained cold and dry in most parts of the country and very cold in the northern areas.

Minimum temperature in Skardu was -8 degrees Cel*sius, Astore -7, Gupis -6, Bagrote -4, Kalam -3, Gilgit -2 and Parachinar and Rawalakot -1.

An indigenous phenomenon

Though the onslaught of fog on Lahore is attributed by some to crop burning in the adjoining areas of India, experts reject this notion and point out the local causes.

Imran Khalid, who holds a PhD in Environment Policy, says that in autumn and winter, the warm air does not allow the cooler air underneath to rise, which leads to visible smog and this is what is being witnessed in Lahore.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1521577/smog-hits-lahore-amid-rain-forecast.
 
LAHORE: Smog levels reached hazardous levels on Friday as Faisalabad and Lahore topped the world’s most polluted cities index, followed by New Delhi.

The overall air quality of Lahore was recorded as 321 with a high concentration of PM2.5 of 270 microgrammes per cubic metre, which is the most damaging of the particulate matter in the air and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and impacts organs. Faisalabad ranked even worse with 440 US air quality index (AQI).

Lahore’s smog conditions have gradually worsened this week with the AQI rising to 281, 295 and 296 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively and Friday being the worst. Weekends are being seen as a few degrees better when there is less transport on the roads.

While the Environment Protection Department is quick to point out that the Air Visual monitors are giving incorrect readings of the smog levels, experts maintain that the conditions are as bad as they seem.

According to environmental experts and an earlier report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the cause of smog remains years-long pollution caused mostly by the transport sector and industries, and not just crop burning. Trans-boundary pollution is also not the main reason as the Met Department has confirmed that Punjab primarily experiences a westerly wave during winter.

Meanwhile, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) is also actively providing information regarding the weather conditions and has highlighted 28 districts in Punjab where smog levels have been increasing.

Through satellite images, Suparco has told the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) that 28 districts in Punjab are contributing to smog by burning crop remains. This includes Lahore and its adjoining areas as well as Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur.

The respective district administrations have been directed by the PDMA to ensure zero tolerance for crop stubble burning. For the past two days, Suparco has pointed out 1,290 areas for burning stubble.

Meanwhile, out of the 162 brick kilns still operating on the old technology, around 80 were converted to zigzag recently, while work was under way on the others. Out of the 80 zigzag kilns, 30 have been newly built and the remaining converted.

Brick kilns were shut down on Nov 7 till Dec 31. Even as the government claims to be cracking down on kilns, several of them were still operating, some even overnight.
 
LAHORE: Punjab's capital city on Tuesday remained in the top 10 cities having the world's worst air quality, climbing up three ranks today.

According to IQ Air, Lahore ranked third, coming behind Bangladesh's Dhaka and Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek.

Lahore recorded a particulate matter (PM) rating of 183 that classifies the city under the "unhealthy" category of air quality.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency regards air quality as satisfactory if the AQI is under 50.

Read more: Lahore, Karachi rank among 10 cities with world's worst air quality

To reduce the smog, the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) in Punjab has sealed 1,718 brick kilns, 2,658 industries, and impounded 11,782 vehicles until December 12.

The PDMA has arrested 544 people for harming the environment, according to a report released by the authority from November 22.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/324456-lahore-finds-its-way-in-top-5-most-polluted-cities-in-the-world
 
Crazy scenes now, could barely see whats right in front of me. Almost zero visibility.
 
The provincial capital was on Monday declared the most polluted city in the world, leaving its traditional rival New Delhi far behind: the official air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was reported at 289 (as per the average between 9am and 5pm) and international monitoring bodies put the score at 397.

New Delhi stood at less than half of Lahore’s pollution level, with 187.

Individual areas of Lahore fared worse, with Kot Lakhpat (industrial area) crossing over 500, Fatehgarh housing most of the steel melting industry close to 400 and relatively green areas like Raiwind at 403 AQI.

“At 397 AQI, [or particulate matter (PM) 2.5], the pollution concentration is 34.8 times higher than the annual air quality value set by the World Health Organisation. This is, what environmentalists call, hazardous with it getting ‘extremely hazardous’ at individual points,” explains Abdul Rauf, representing an organisation working on air quality of the city.

Pulmonologist advises people to wear masks while going out

“What makes the matter dangerous is that it was not smog on Monday, it was pure pollution,” claims an official of the environment department.

Smog occurs when smoke mixes with fog. On Monday, the humidity level in the city was 60 per cent — and such a level does not form fog. Monday’s mist did not cause any eye irritation, which also proves it was not smog. This means that this haze was pure pollution.

“Secondly, and what is extremely worrying as well, is the fact that it is purely indigenous. The country is still experiencing westerly winds, which means the wind is flowing towards India and pollution from that side of the border has still not invaded Pakistan. Once the wind changes its direction and carries Indian pollution (mainly smoke emanating from stubble burning) into Pakistan, the situation here would certainly worsen,” the official says.

There is very little the department can do to control the situation, except for dealing with the “hot spots” of pollution, the official continues. The industrial areas and their operations are under the microscope now. The department has already instructed its field force to concentrate on the industrial operations, especially during the night. Normally, the industry, especially in northern Lahore, uses substandard and highly polluting fuels during the night, he maintains.

The Meteorological department forecast does not provide any relief either, as it predicts dry weather for the next 48 hours and does not see any rain (atmospheric cleanser) during the next few days.

On Monday, the wind speed, which normally carries away pollution, was only up to five knots, leaving pollutants suspended in the Lahore air. A Met official said temperatures and mist would hold the same pattern for the next 24 hours.

Dr Nadeem Ahmad, a pulmonologist, advises people to wear masks while stepping out of the house. Even homes need air purifiers now because the fine particles can invade lungs and even blood, let alone rooms. People with pre-existing conditions (like asthma) need to avoid going out and save themselves from this pollution as much as they can, he warns.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2021
 
MenInG said:
The provincial capital was on Monday declared the most polluted city in the world, leaving its traditional rival New Delhi far behind: the official air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was reported at 289 (as per the average between 9am and 5pm) and international monitoring bodies put the score at 397.

New Delhi stood at less than half of Lahore’s pollution level, with 187.

Individual areas of Lahore fared worse, with Kot Lakhpat (industrial area) crossing over 500, Fatehgarh housing most of the steel melting industry close to 400 and relatively green areas like Raiwind at 403 AQI.

“At 397 AQI, [or particulate matter (PM) 2.5], the pollution concentration is 34.8 times higher than the annual air quality value set by the World Health Organisation. This is, what environmentalists call, hazardous with it getting ‘extremely hazardous’ at individual points,” explains Abdul Rauf, representing an organisation working on air quality of the city.

Pulmonologist advises people to wear masks while going out

“What makes the matter dangerous is that it was not smog on Monday, it was pure pollution,” claims an official of the environment department.

Smog occurs when smoke mixes with fog. On Monday, the humidity level in the city was 60 per cent — and such a level does not form fog. Monday’s mist did not cause any eye irritation, which also proves it was not smog. This means that this haze was pure pollution.

“Secondly, and what is extremely worrying as well, is the fact that it is purely indigenous. The country is still experiencing westerly winds, which means the wind is flowing towards India and pollution from that side of the border has still not invaded Pakistan. Once the wind changes its direction and carries Indian pollution (mainly smoke emanating from stubble burning) into Pakistan, the situation here would certainly worsen,” the official says.

There is very little the department can do to control the situation, except for dealing with the “hot spots” of pollution, the official continues. The industrial areas and their operations are under the microscope now. The department has already instructed its field force to concentrate on the industrial operations, especially during the night. Normally, the industry, especially in northern Lahore, uses substandard and highly polluting fuels during the night, he maintains.

The Meteorological department forecast does not provide any relief either, as it predicts dry weather for the next 48 hours and does not see any rain (atmospheric cleanser) during the next few days.

On Monday, the wind speed, which normally carries away pollution, was only up to five knots, leaving pollutants suspended in the Lahore air. A Met official said temperatures and mist would hold the same pattern for the next 24 hours.

Dr Nadeem Ahmad, a pulmonologist, advises people to wear masks while stepping out of the house. Even homes need air purifiers now because the fine particles can invade lungs and even blood, let alone rooms. People with pre-existing conditions (like asthma) need to avoid going out and save themselves from this pollution as much as they can, he warns.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2021
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Complete lack of interest from the government or people living in Lahore.
I visited Lahore in December 2019 and tried going for a 5k run in the evening and it was not pleasant.

Part of the problem is a complete lack of responsibility. The easy response is Indian farmers burning rice. That’s a contributing factor but not the sole factor. The cars in Lahore are ancient and heavily polluting, the industry and power generation is also polluting, and then there’s the brick kilns as welll.

Put all of that together and that is a lot of pollution going into the atmosphere.

Feel really bad for children having to grow up in that environment.
 
Imagine the double whammy - COVID 19 and Smog!
 
Breathable Air Insides and Outsides-Lahore


"Its a Myth: The air inside your home is cleaner than the air outside.

TRUTH: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor levels of many pollutants may be 25 to 100 times HIGHER than outdoor levels. This should be a major concern given most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. The increased level of pollutants is due in part to homes being constructed more tightly without adequate ventilation".(Source:http://www.derdenheatingandcooling.com/assets/mythvsfact.pdf)

Air Quality is state of air around us, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) a term to introduce air quality within a space, maintaining the right aspects of the contents in the air to have a comfortable space around a human body. IAQ is very essential with Human Body being more prone to deadly bacteria and viruses around our comfort zone.

Poor IAQ affects can be very fatal causing, respiratory issues, fatigue, dizziness, Irritation and long terms unidentifiable problems leading to heart diseases and cancer.

Taking by example Lahore one of the most populous urban city of the world, is dealing with the worst air quality issues. The recent Smog has made it worst, this is mainly caused by the Vehicle emissions, power production and factories leading to be the main source of pollution in the lower atmosphere. “In 2012 around 7 million people died-one in eight of total global deaths-as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk” – World Health Organization. The same phenomenon has occurred in cities like Beijing and Delhi.

What is the solution? What factors should be applied? What precautions to be taken at personnel level?

These questions needs to be answered and while the government has not taken any swift action regarding the same tackling it as one of the same nonexistent issues, but on the long run they might have to pay for it.



· The mass solution would be to use more fuel efficient vehicles with the introduction of the hybrid vehicles things are moving on the right side but needs further implementation.

· Introducing better public transport to reduce the use of Vehicles.

· Alternate energy to be made available for the Public.

· Shifting the Manufacturing Industry to a more isolated area, where it does not affect the daily life of commuters.

· Construction Projects to be monitored by environmental Engineering personnel’s.

This is some of the steps that can be taken at mass level, which has to be implemented by the authorities to move towards a more breathable city.

What solutions can be applied at personal level to improve IAQ? , well there are many technologies available presently in the market to enhance the air quality at places like hotels, restaurants, malls and Housing.

Air Purifier: Removing contamination from the air, these are basically standalone units and are used to purify the air from the bacteria causing allergy or asthma.

Fresh Air (Ventilation): Adding fresh air to your space either through designated units or for small applications through openings to the atmosphere.

HVAC UV Lights: UV light is Nobel Prize winning invention and is being used for sterilization from ages; the application of it to HVAC industry has boosted the IAQ industry. There are two types of UV lights

· Coil Sterilization: A light is installed in the unit next to the air handling coil which sterilizes the air on coil.

· Air Sterilization: UV light installed in the return air Duct to sterilize moving air.

Benefits of Using UV light in HVAC Systems:

· Lowers energy costs by improving HVAC heat transfer and increasing the cooling capacity, reduces maintenance: continuously cleans coils and ducts.

· Improves IAQ by preventing spread of airborne microbone organisms which leads to infectious diseases.



These UV lights are now available for Split Units, which can be installed easily and is a very economical solution.



Ultraviolet Light Effective in Hospital Infection Control – In 2012, Researchers at Duke University Medical Center used ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) to nearly eliminate drug-resistant bacteria in 50 hospital rooms, reducing the number of bacteria by more than 97%.

There are many other technologies which can be used to make the Environment a more comfortable a more breathable place to live. The above mentioned are some of the solutions which can be cost effective and can be used in any kind of application.

The authorities need to step in and take matters in to their own hand by establishing centers, which take emission reading in the most affected area by monitoring constantly and produce a report on emission inventory to tackle the issues from its root.
 
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In third world counties like Pak no one cares or understands the impact of the environment. As we say "jaan hai toh jahan hai", when so many people do without basic needs why would anyone rightfully worry about things that are irrelevant to them.
 
LAHORE: The Punjab government wants the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against anyone spreading fake or unauthorised data on air quality in the province on social media.

Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) Minister Muhammad Rizwan wrote a letter to the FIA Lahore director for this purpose.

In it, he wrote that EPD is administering the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997. “It is an Act to provide protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, for the prevention and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development,” he was quoted as saying in the letter by The News.

The minister expressed the belief that some "unscrupulous elements with malafide intention" were trying to damage the country's image during smog season by reporting a misleading and false reading of the Air Quality Index (AQI) from different unauthorised sources in Lahore on print and electronic media in contrary to the information by EPD, Punjab.

He said the FIA should take action against such culprits under cyber laws. EPD will identify such persons/companies to the FIA’s cyber crime wing, he told the publication, explaining that under the cyber crime laws, unauthorised copying or transmission of data with dishonest intentions and comes under FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing and the person/company responsible could be imprisoned or fined.

“Fake/unauthorised data on air quality of Lahore or any city of Punjab is harming international reputation of the government and creating fear among the citizens, which can’t be tolerated,” he said.

So how can the smog issue be addressed?
To address the smog issue, he said the government is thinking over several options, including a month-long closure of schools, a smart lockdown in sensitive areas and a ban on all kinds of construction activities in Lahore, including LDA’s three mega projects because adjoining areas of these projects are witnessing higher levels of smog.

An experiment to induce artificial rain as a measure to counter smog, meanwhile, is being considered by Punjab University Centre for Integrated Mountain Research Director Professor Munawar Sabir.

He plans to do this in Khanaspur in the last week of November 2021. Many countries are creating artificial rain with different methods to fulfill their water needs, he explained, adding that we can do it too by using drones to jolt clouds with a negative charge.

"The rain caused through this method will give us water costing 10 paisa per litre. The good news is that the situation in Lahore is not very bad and the bad news is that it will not improve without rain," he said.

On the option to induce artificial rain, the provincial minister said the government has not considered this method.

The Lahore deputy commissioner said 21 industrial units were checked, out of which eight were sealed for not controlling pollution.

GEO
 
LAHORE: Lahore again topped the list of the most polluted cities of the world on Thursday with hazardous air quality levels.

The city’s air quality index was 443 at 10am that put it in the hazardous category with regard to PM2.5 (particulate matter) level. At the time of filing of this report at 10:25pm, Lahore was still at the top of the list of world’s most populated city with air quality index of 270 (very unhealthy), followed by Hanoi (Vietnam) whose index was 209.

On the other hand, the district administration demolished two more pyrolysis plants on Thursday as it continued its operation against such plants in an effort to control smog.

The number of such demolished plants has now reached 20.

The city district teams raided the plants and demolished them for different violations, including unsealing the plant without permission, erecting different structures without approving maps from the authorities and causing pollution.

The plants were extracting furnace and crude oil from wires and used tyres to sell it in at a low rate. The demolished plants included Mohsin and Iqbal plants in Shalimar tehsil.

Earlier, DC Umar Sher Chattha visited three development schemes where he was briefed about various projects.

Meanwhile, on the direction of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, ‘Diwar-e-Ehsaas’ has been set up in Multan after Ehsaas Bazaar. DC Amir Kareem inaugurated the ‘Diwar-i-Ehsaas’ and distributed clothes among the needy.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2021

https://www.dawn.com/news/1662926/lahore-again-tops-list-of-worlds-most-polluted-cities
 
LAHORE: Lahore continue to remain on top of the list of the most polluted cities in the world having worst air quality, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to the Air Quality Index, Lahore has been ranked first in the list, while Afghan capital city Kabul remained second. India’s Kolkata and New Delhi have been on third and fourth ranks respectively in the AQI list.

Smog continued to haunt Punjab with bad air quality.

ARY
 
Absolute health hazard at the moment. Overseas Pakistanis coming into the city and quite a few of the natives coughing and spluttering like crazy.

Currently rated worst polluted city for air quality in the world.
 
Smog forces closure of schools three days a week across Punjab

The Punjab government has announced the closure of schools three days a week across the province in view of aggravated levels of smog.

A notification to this effect was issued last night by the provincial government.

“In compliance with the directions of honourable Lahore High Court, Lahore, in writ petition No. 227807/ 2018 vide order dated 02-12-2022, it is notified that owing to prevailing SMOG condition, all Public & Private Schools in District Lahore shall remain closed on every Friday & Saturday, in addition to the weekly holiday on Sunday till further orders,” reads the notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.

The Lahore High Court had on Tuesday asked the government to notify the closure of schools in the provincial capital for at least three days a week.

Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC had passed the order while hearing public interest petitions on several issues related to the environment.

The LHC judge had directed a provincial law officer to submit the notification regarding the schools’ closure in the court on Wednesday (today).

In compliance with the court orders, the Punjab’s School Education Department issued a notification late Tuesday whose copy was also submitted before the LHC bench today.

Terming the smog a “calamity”, Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi had ordered the effective implementation of a plan designed to reduce smog in the province and said that action should be taken to control the factors that caused it.

The Environment Protec*tion Department (EPD), transport, and industries departments in liaison with administrative officers should go in the field, the CM said, adding that any failure to implement the ongoing SOPs to reduce smog will not be tolerated.

He had said that “indiscriminate action” should be taken against those who set fire to crop residues — a practice banned across the province.

Last week, the judge had observed that the government failed to control smog and directed the Environment Protection Agency to make rules to enhance punishment on the brick kilns and industries for violating the laws and policies. Justice Karim noted that smog had been causing health complications among the citizens, especially children, and senior citizens.

DAWN
 
LAHORE: PRIVATE SCHOOLS DEFY ORDERS OF THREE WEEKLY OFFS

LAHORE: The private schools association has refused to comply with the orders of three weekly offs in Lahore schools amid the increasing threat of smog, ARY News reported.

As per details, several schools in Lahore are open today despite the orders of the LHC and the Punjab government regarding three days off in the week.

Schools located in Chungi, Nishtar Town, Kahna, Gajumata, Raiwind Road and other areas are open today as the private school association refused to obey orders of the LHC and Punjab government.

On Wednesday, the Punjab government notified three off days a week for schools in the provincial capital owing to extreme smog, after the orders of the Lahore High Court.

“All schools of Lahore will remain closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” official notification read. “The decision of three weekly off days will remain in force till the next order,” the government announced.

Smoke from vehicles, factories and burning of the remains of crops have been major factors behind the dense smog that engulfs cities in the beginning days of Winter.

ARY
 
LAHORE FOG FORCES PIA TO SHIFT OPERATIONS TO ISLAMABAD

Due to poor visibility and fog in Lahore, Pakistan International Airlines has shifted all international flight operations between 10pm and 11am from the capital of Punjab to Islamabad, ARY News reported on Thursday.

“All international flights scheduled to operate to/from Lahore between 10pm and 11am have been shifted to Islamabad,” PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said in a statement.

The rescheduling of flights during these hours is temporary and will be restored as soon as the foggy conditions improve, according to the national flag carrier.

He clarified that flight-shifting arrangements will be reversed once the foggy conditions improved in Lahore.

The move was aimed at ensuring air safety and saving long waiting time for passengers, he claimed.

The spokesperson advised the passengers to contact the PIA call center at (021) 111 786 786 to get timely information about flights.

Dense fog grips Punjab
Dense fog has blanketed different cities of Punjab, including Lahore, paralysing routine life and disrupting road and air traffic.

The thick fog has badly affected the flow of road traffic in several cities of Punjab. According to a Motorway spokesman, the Motorway Section from Thokar to Kot Momin (M2), Motorway Section from Lahore to Samundri (M3), Motorway Section from Bahi Interchange to Gojra Interchange (M4), Multan Motorway (M5) from Uch Sharif to Zahir Pir and Motorway Section from Lahore to Sialkot (M11) was closed as visibility was very poor.

ARY
 
Flights delayed as smog blankets Punjab
Plan put in place to facilitate arrival of smog-diverted flights at Islamabad airport

As a heavy, thick cloud of smog continues to envelop the province, flight operations on Friday saw disruption and delays, prompting the authorities at the Islamabad International Airport to devise a plan for the arrival of smog-diverted flights.

According to officials, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and airlines have taken joint steps to facilitate safe air travel for passengers as a hazardous level of dense fog affects visibility in several cities in Punjab, including Lahore and Sialkot.

For this purpose, authorities at the Islamabad International Airport have worked out a schedule for the arrival of smog-diverted flights and their safe landing.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2392621/flights-delayed-as-smog-blankets-punjab
 
Cyclists in Pakistan's smog-smothered Lahore are enduring hazardous pollution levels, abuse from drivers and social stigma in a campaign to get people to ditch their cars.

Each week around 100 adults and children, some wearing masks or scarves wrapped around their mouths and noses, jump on their bikes to cycle around landmarks in the city of more than 11 million people.

"The smog is a huge concern for us because there are so many cars now and the population has increased so much," said Afia Khan, who joined the initiative in August.

Express Tribune
 
LHC orders extension in winter vacation of schools, colleges as smog worsens
LHC summons PDMA director-general to next hearing of separate pleas seeking efforts to control smog in Lahore

The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered on Tuesday the authorities to extend the winter vacations of schools and colleges for another seven days on account of excessive smog in the provincial capital.

The court summoned the Provincial Disaster Management Authority's (PDMA) director-general to the next hearing of separate pleas for efforts to control smog in Lahore.

"Smog is under control to an extent," the court remarked during the hearing, adding that controlling the levels of smog is the government's responsibility.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1...schools-colleges-for-another-week-due-to-smog
 
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Break from smog as rains likely to lash parts of country
PMD forecasts rain, snowfall in upper, central areas

After a long dry spell, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain with snowfall over the hills in upper parts of the country that would subside foggy conditions and benefit the standing crops.

The Met Office on Tuesday informed that a westerly wave has entered northwestern parts of Balochistan and is likely to grip upper and central parts of the country on December 28 (night) till December 29.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2393071/break-from-smog-as-rains-likely-to-lash-parts-of-country
 
LAHORE RESTAURANTS ALLOWED TO OPERATE TILL 11PM

Retracting its earlier order to close markets and restaurants at 10pm owing to smog, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has now allowed restaurants to operate till 11pm, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Justice Shahid Karim issued the written order of the previous hearing in the smog case.

In its revised order, the court has also allowed home delivery service till 12:30am.

The LHC further directed the traffic police to issue contact numbers for information regarding traffic jams.

During the previous hearing, the LHC ordered the closure of markets and restaurants from Monday-Thursday at 10 pm and allowed businesses to operate till 11 pm on weekends.

Justice Shahid Karim also ordered to seal schools defying LHC’s three weekly offs decision. He also directed the education department to strictly implement LHC orders.

ARY
 
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