Mid-week day off announced in city

Proposed anti-smog steps include traffic restrictions

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has decided to observe a holiday in Lahore every Wednesday from next week to combat smog.

A notification in this regard has been issued, while several other proposals are also under consideration to improve the environment in cities affected by smog.

According to sources, the caretaker provincial cabinet will take decisions regarding the measures against smog in its next meeting.

A proposal to impose ‘work from home’ for one day every week in educational, government and business institutions will be reviewed.

A spokesperson for the Punjab government said the final decision was yet to be taken on the recommendations presented before cabinet anti-smog committee. Several recommendations have been presented to the committee by experts and related departments.

Meanwhile, rain in Lahore dropped the air quality index to 55, depicting a considerable reduction in pollution.

The spokesman said it had been observed that the air quality deteriorated to dangerous levels in Lahore on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the smog season.

The provincial capital becomes one of the most polluted cities in the world on sch days.

Therefore, according to the government, a plan of action, possibly including a lockdown and traffic restrictions, has been suggested.

The caretaker Punjab government is likely to impose a shutdown on Wednesdays for markets, schools, colleges and factories.

The sources said experts had revealed that the main reason for the increase in smog was the traffic in Lahore, while smoke from factories caused seven per cent increase in smog.

Half of the employees in government offices will work on Wednesday, while road blockades will be set up on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, heavy fines will be imposed on factories that violate the relevant laws.

On the appeal of the Lahore administration to help curb smog, some business organisations supported the complete closure of the markets on Wednesdays.

Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa says that in the light of the directive of the Punjab government, there will be work from home on the day.

He said the mid-week holiday would be implemented for the coming two months.

The commissioner thanked the business owners for supporting the anti-smog decision.

The traders had communicated their suggestions and problems to the local administration regarding smog.

They suggested plantation, parking arrangements, removal of encroachment and imposition of market timings to curb smog.

The traders suggested different timings for the wholesale and retail markets.

The CCPO and commissioner assured the traders that they would conduct an operation to remove temporary encroachments from the markets to maintain traffic flow. No business would suffer and decisions would be made after consulting business owners, they said.

Strict action will be taken against tractor trolleys travelling without cover, keeping building debris uncovered and not sprinkling water in the under construction areas.

The record of previous years shows that the dense smog is expected in October and November.

However, commenting on the move, Anjuman Tajran leader Shehzad Bhatti said the businesses were already struggling and the government should come up with a plan to eliminate smog while keeping the country’s economy running.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2023.