The Punjab government on Wednesday imposed a “green lockdown” in smog “hotspots” of Lahore, restricting various activities in a bid to reduce pollution that has left the city shrouded in haze for the past week.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the provincial capital has averaged between 200 and 300—“unhealthy”—over the past week, though it has briefly peaked at around 700, deemed “hazardous,” and inched upwards of 500 during the nighttime. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has urged residents of Lahore to declare “war on smog,” calling for preventative measures to counter the public health concerns arising from pollution.
Amidst mounting public concern, the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday issued a notification imposing a “green lockdown” in parts of Lahore under Section 6(1)(t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997. According to the notification, authorities have identified air pollution “hotspots” in areas surrounding Davis Road, Egerton Road, Durand Road and Kashmir Road; areas around Abbott Road, starting from Shimla Hill to Gulistan Cinema; areas around Empress Road, starting from Shimla Hill till Railways Headquarters; and areas surrounding Queen Mary Road, starting from Durand Road to Allama Iqbal Road.
To counter smog, the notification has banned all construction activities in the hotspot areas. Additionally, it has banned the entry of chingchi rickshaws; and the operation of commercial generators. Similarly, it has banned open food cooking/barbecue points after 8 p.m. and directed all food outlets to cease using charcoal, coal or wood without proper emission control systems. The notification also bans the operation of marquees/marriage halls after 10 p.m. and the “dry sweeping” of the areas, adding the Lahore Waste Management Company would conduct “wet sweeping” instead.
The notification further requires all public and private offices operating in the affected areas to implement a work-from-home policy, with only 50 percent of staff permitted on-site. It also restricts car parking in the impacted areas; calls for the removal of all encroachments and mandates a check of all heavy transport vehicles entering the areas.
Earlier, in a speech on the floor of the Punjab Assembly, Aurangzeb said the provincial government aimed to establish a “green ring” of trees around the city to reduce carbon emissions and increase oxygen levels. She said this would be achieved through a public-private partnership, adding educational institutions and students would also participate in the forestation plans.