Amid the increasing threat of smog in Lahore, the Government of Punjab has announced to keep private institutions, and sub-offices close thrice a week (Friday, and Saturday)
The decisions come in line up with the guidelines of the Lahore High Court to address the smog issue. Punjab is badly struck with such weather conditions in recent years in the initial days of winter in the region. A spell of heavy rains or strong winds could clear the smog caused by polluting heavy particles.
As per the notification issued by the relief commissioner of Punjab, the private institutions will remain closed thrice a week from December 7 (today) until 15th January 2022. The move has been taken to protect people from smog-related diseases.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab government notified three off days a week for schools in the provincial capital owing to extreme smog.
As winter begins, the areas of northern Punjab come under a thick layer of fog affecting daily life and vehicular traffic. Motorways are blocked and flights are delayed or canceled due to poor visibility. Thick hazy layer understood to be winter’s fog is a noxious smog carrying serious health hazards, experts say.
Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. The term “smog” was first used in the early 1900s to describe a mix of smoke and fog. Smog is created by increasing vehicular and industrial emissions and the burning of coal and the remains of agricultural crops. Smog has been common in industrial areas and remains a familiar sight in cities of the present day.
Earlier Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi announced to impose environmental emergency in Lahore and other cities to deal with the situation of smog. The chief minister said that smog has been declared disastrous and ordered to effectively implement the plan to reduce the smog.
“Action should be taken to control those factors that are causing smog,” said CM Elahi, adding that failure to implement the standard operating procedure (SOPs) to reduce smog will not be tolerated.
The chief minister also announced a ban on stubble burning, saying that action will be taken against those caught burning the crops residue.
