The French government has given a €1.2 million (Rs35 crore) grant to Pakistan for Punjab province to tackle the smog situation.
French Ambassador Nicolas Galey and Planning and Development Board Chairman Nabeel Awan signed a Declaration of Intent in this regard.
The funding secured through this collaboration is expected to expand the scope of the initiative, and French environmental experts will offer their expertise to help reduce hazardous air pollutants in Punjab.
Speaking at the session, French Ambassador Nicolas Galey highlighted the impact of climate change and expressed his hopes for mutual understanding and further collaboration in the future.
Earlier, the Punjab government installed a smog clean tower in Lahore.
According to state media, the smog tower aims to reduce hazardous smog levels that have plagued the city, particularly in the past month, affecting nearly two million residents.
Smog in Lahore
On Tuesday (today), Lahore stood on second position in the list of world’s most polluted cities. Meanwhile, India’s capital city New Delhi remains the most polluted city of the world 786 AQI reading.
Before the arrival of winter, Lahore consistently ranked top among the most polluted cities globally, with AQI reading exceeding 1000.
The smog crisis in Lahore and other cities of Punjab in November caused serious health issues including irritation in eyes, breathing problems and other health issues affecting normal life.
The region has been struggling with toxic air due to heavy vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and crop burning, leading to widespread health issues.
