LAHORE: Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday announced that complete lockdown will be imposed in Lahore and Multan from Friday to Sunday, due to smog.
She further said that if needed, the lockdown can be imposed early, she further said that a notification in this regard will be issued later by Environment Protection Department (EPD).
She said all the construction work in Lahore, and Multan division will be banned, and restaurants in the both cities will be closed at 4pm. However, take-away from restaurants will be allowed till 8pm.
Universities and colleges in Lahore and across Punjab will also transition to online classes, she added.
A complete ban has also been imposed on burning kilns, will also be imposed in Multan and Lahore, to deal with poor air quality.
She said that staff leave in health desks and hospitals has been cancelled, and departments have been instructed to ensure an adequate supply of medicines.
The minister also advised citizens not to go outside on motorcycles except for emergencies and to use masks.
The senior minister further stated that they will review the data by Wednesday, and that smog has now turned into a health crisis. “The Punjab government is taking all possible measures to combat smog and has introduced a 10-year policy to address its prevention,” she added.
Marriyum Aurangzeb made these comments while talking about the measures taken by the Punjab government to address the issue of poor air quality in the province.
The provincial minister, while discussing the issue of smog said that Pakistan and India need to sit together to deal with the smog crisis.
“We have called for initiating dialogue with India to address the issue of smog,” she stated further.
When will lockdown will be imposed in Lahore?
The lockdown in Lahore will be enforced starting next Friday, November 22.
Lahore AQI today
Lahore air quality remained ‘hazardous’ for the 12th consecutive day on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 810, retaining its title of the world most populated city.
According to a report by IQAir, which tracks real-time data of air quality worldwide, the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore reached 810 at 8:30pm morning, making it the top-ranked city on the list of the most polluted city globally followed by Delhi with AQI 649.
More to follow
