Smog expands around the city

LAHORE:

Despite the formation of a smog monitoring squad by the Punjab government, the intense air pollution has spread to the districts adjoining Lahore, including Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Kasur, as well as other populous cities.

According to environmental experts, big districts situated along the GT Road and motorway are facing the risk of the smog caused by a huge traffic flow, brick kilns and factories.

Besides the districts around Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Multan and Rawalpindi are also in grip of toxic air pollution that is casing health problems for the residents. Despite official announcements, the relevant departments appear helpless to handle the expanding risk of smog.

The provincial government has been struggling hard to curb smog in the city through various steps, including the formation of the smog monitoring squad.

Also read: Rains bring smog relief for trade, education

However, the continuing government plans and actions have failed to save Lahore from air pollution and smog, with their adverse effects also threatening other districts.

Smog during the ongoing season has not only gripped Lahore but several other areas due to the worst air pollution in the region.

Smoke from brick kilns, factories and traffic causes visible layers of smog in the morning over the districts through which the major highways pass, especially Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Gujrat.

The Lahore-to-Islamabad Grand Trunk Road passes through the districts in addition to the motorway.

Heavy traffic and vehicles with substandard engines plying on the roads round the clock have affected the environment of those districts.

Many brick kilns also operate in Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Kasur and Sheikhupura.

The districts are also hubs of business and industrial activities. The same situation is faced by the residents of Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Multan.

Bahawalpur also joined list of the world’s 10 most pollution cities last year.

"According to reports, the city areas of the Gujarnwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Gujrat districts are facing toxic air pollution and smog. The worst situation is in Gujranwala where an estimated 13,000 were brought to hospitals in the district with complaints of diseases linked to smog, including cough, breathing, eye and skin problems,” a senior official of the Punjab Environment Department told The Express Tribune.

Similar reports were received from hospitals in Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Sheikhupura and Kasur.

The official said the main reason of the deteriorating environmental conditions was that the majority of factories and industrial units were located inside the main cities and had not been shifted away from the populated areas. Brick kilns are also operating around the urban centres.

Read: Smog begins to choke city

The maximum traffic of Punjab passes the GT Road and motorway in Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Gujrat districts in the day as well as night, exposing them to a high risk of smog.

Clouds of smog cover the agricultural fields and other open areas in the morning and evening, while the residents are exposed to the pollution caused by factories the whole day.

Dense smog blanketing Lahore is proving hazardous for the health of the elderly, children and sensitive groups of citizens.

Majority of the people travelling in the city wear masks to avoid smog.

A local resident said rain appeared to be the only solution against the smog after the failure of the measures taken by the authorities in this regard.

However, despite the air quality data, some departments claim that the city is witnessing fog, and not smog.

"I visited the areas towards Sheikhupura on the motorway and observed the presence of fog. Terming it smog is not correct,” Punjab Environment Protection Department Deputy Director Farooq Alam said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2023.