Lahore’s hazardous smog hits national highways

Visibility level at many points of national highways reduced to only 150 metres

LAHORE: Smog, after a prolonged period of affecting the health of Punjab’s residents, has hit low at the flow of traffic at national highways of Punjab on Friday, causing a nuisance to the commuters.

The smog has been so intense in the provincial capital that section of M-3 from Thokar Niaz Beg to Sammundri Interchange remained closed for over one and a half hour. Visibility level at many points of the national highways was reduced to 150 metres only.

Taking notice of the issue, National Highways and Motorway Police advised the citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.

For the last few years, smog has emerged as a very serious issue in the provincial capital as well as other parts of the province. However, the provincial government has failed to address to determine the causes as well as solutions for this pollutant environmental disease.

Punjab gripped by severe cold, fog

A recent report revealed that Lahore has topped the global ranking of cities with the worst air quality. Last week, the air quality went up to ‘hazardous’ with an Air Quality Index (AQI) oscillating between 250 and 300.

Moreover, the atmospheric particulate reading of Lahore was recorded as 195 microgrammes per cubic metre; which means that the air quality of provincial capital is almost 19 times worse than what is normally considered to be safe, to inhale, for human beings and animals.

Recently, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam announced that the government is launching a special programme, in collaboration with the World Bank, to address issues of air quality.

Massive gridlock in city as fog disrupts movement across Punjab

Road accident during fog

A student has been killed while another sustained injuries during a bus-motorcycle collision, during fog, in Arifwala tehsil. Reportedly, the fog started in multiple cities of the province including Lahore, Boraywala, Fort Abbas, Chishtian, Harunabad, Bahawalnagar, Arifwala, Pakpattan, Chichawatni, Sahiwal and Farooqabad on Friday.

The heavy fog remained in several places including Sheikhupura, Muridke, Pattoki, Habibabad and Phoolnagar. According to motorway police, visibility reduced significantly due to fog. From Thokar Niaz Baig to Hiran Minar, visibility remained 40 to 50 metres, while at different locations from Hiran Minar to Kot Sarwar, the range was 100 to 200 metres. The traffic entry closed due to severe fog from Thokar Niaz Baig to Babu Sabu on the motorway. Smog continues in the provincial capital with the atmosphere of the city still considered polluted. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2019.