Smog outlives prolonged weekends

Traffic congestion may aggravate pollution

LAHORE:

The policy of having three-day weekends in schools and government and private offices in Lahore expired on January 15 but smog in the atmosphere persists despite a decrease in fog.

The extended weekly holidays were introduced to curb smog during the cold weather.

The Air Quality Index monitors showed that smog remained in most cities of Punjab during December and January.

Although the government tried to shut down factories and brick kilns causing pollution and act under Section 144 against setting fire to crops, the smog could not be curbed completely.

Now that schools and offices will open on Mondays and Saturdays, the smog is expected to increase because of traffic congestion.

A high level of smog is recorded in most parts of Lahore.

So far no comprehensive plan has been made by the government to curb the smog after completion of the period specified for the earlier decision.

According to the air quality figures released by the department of environment, pollution has been controlled to a great extent. However, the data shared by private companies vary.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Department has released Air Quality Index for the past 24 hours. Showing a score of 114 at Town Hall, 79 at Township Sector Two and 282 at Canal View Society. The AQI at National Hockey Stadium was recorded at 250.

Read Lahore, Delhi smog forces school, plant closures as residents choke

The Air Quality Index in Faisalabad was recorded at 70, Rahim Yar Khan 98 and Rawalpindi 105. 

Contrary to this, according to the American Air Quality Index, the smog level in Lahore is higher. The provincial capital and Faisalabad have the highest level of air pollution in the country. Lahore has also ranked several times among the most polluted cities in the world.

Amid cold weather, traffic congestion in the morning and evening contributes to intensifying the smog.

Due to a decrease in the temperature in Lahore, the fog increases, resulting in halting stopping traffic from Lahore via  motorways in the evening.

According to the Meteorological Department, the fog intensifies due to smog and low temperature.

The minimum temperatures in Lahore has risen to six degrees so far, while there is a possibility of rain in the coming days, due to which the intensity of smog will decrease.

The weather is expected to be dry and cold in most districts of Punjab.

Heavy fog is expected in the plains. Light rain is expected in Rawalpindi, Attock, Murree and Jhelum.

Meanwhile, cold and cloudy weather has been forecast for most of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Air quality in India and Pakistan has deteriorated in recent years, with winter’s hazardous pollution driven by a mixture of low-grade diesel fumes and smoke from seasonal crop burn off, worsened by the colder temperatures.

Lahore is routinely ranked as one of the world’s most polluted urban centres, and frequently tops daily rankings.

The hazardous air quality can cause breathing issues that range from discomfort to respiratory tract and heart diseases.

But authorities have been slow to act, blaming the smog on arch-rival India or claiming the figures are exaggerated.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2022.