MPAs slam environment officials over smog

Demands action against ‘corrupt’ elements for their negligence

LAHORE: The opposition benches of the Punjab Assembly demanded the government make concerted efforts to control the dense smog which has enveloped the province and is causing various health issues among the public.

In the last two weeks, legislators submitted their resolutions and adjournment motions over the smog issue and demanded strict action against Environment Protection Department Punjab (EPDP) officials whose “negligence” had caused the situation.

Around eight resolutions and adjournment motions were submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislators Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui, Ahmed Khan Bachar, Malik Taimoor Masood, Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s Dr Muhammad Afzal and Sadia Sohail Rana. They held the EPDP and government responsible for the smog and demanded strict action against corrupt officials.

In his resolution, Bachar demanded schoolchildren be given vacations until the smog is reduced.



Sadia Sohail Rana said due to the Metro and Orange Line projects, thousands of trees were chopped down and this caused an environmental problem. She demanded a comprehensive campaign to plant trees across the province.

Dr Muhammad Afzal said negligence on the part of the environment department had caused the smog. He regretted that no solid steps were being taken to challan smoke-emitting vehicles.

Similarly, Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui said that there were a lot of factories working during the night in Mehmood-Booti, Droghawala and adjoining areas. “At these factories, tyres were burnt which is hazardous to human health.” He said these factories should either be closed or relocated outside the city.

Patients of smog-related problems

Malik Taimoor Masood said that no special counters have been set up in government hospitals for patients with smog-related ailments. He said the authorities  should distribute face masks to the students of educational institutes.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Services Director General Dr Faisal Zahoor also invited bids for procurement of 500,000 face masks at an estimated cost of Rs0.88 million. In addition, he said it has been decided to carry out a comprehensive awareness campaign for which about Rs1 million was being spent on publicity material, pamphlets and posters.

Agri department issues advisory

The Punjab Agriculture Department has also issued an advisory and recommended that air pollution must not exceed 80 microgrammes per cubic metre, as per standard measure. However, the levels had increased to 200 microgrammes per cubic metre in multiple areas of Punjab.

Dense smog not only has an adverse effect on human beings, but is also dangerous for crops. Due to smog, photosynthesis process in leaves is affected and plants cannot make their necessary food. Plants, under the effect of smoggy clouds, cannot prepare the necessary hormones for their growth and the per acre yield of crops may be affected due to this situation.

The spokesman of the agriculture department said that to mitigate the effects of smog, farmers should avoid burning crop residue. He said that instead of burning, farmers should mix the crop residues into the soil. In case of smog, farmers should irrigate their crops, gardens, and vegetables so that the growth process of crops does not suffer. Furthermore, farmers should spray water on crops at least twice a week.



Dina Wadia building

A legislator of the treasury benches demanded the government name any road or building after Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s daughter Dina Wadia, who passed away last week.

Pakistan Muslim League-N legislator Hina Pervez Butt demanded this through a resolution submitted in the Punjab Assembly. She said the House expressed its sorrow over the death of Wadia - the only child of the founder of Pakistan. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2017.