Twin cities declare smog emergency

Anti-smog operations begin in Rawalpindi, Islamabad amid air quality crisis

RAWALPINDI:

As a surge in the air pollution index has also rung the alarm bells in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad after Lahore, a smog emergency has been declared in the twin cities and anti-smog operations have been launched.

The air pollution index in the garrison city has reached 154, whereas in Islamabad it has reached 130. The air pollution index has crossed from 100 to 120 in Murree and 160 in the suburbs of Rawalpindi, which is continuously on the rise.

The Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) has imposed an immediate ban on burning and smoke-emitting activities across the district under Section 144 and has assigned 10 departments to tackle different aspects of the anti-smog campaign.

The Civil Defence Department will take action against smoke-emitting factories, bakeries and workshops across the district, the Agriculture Department will act against the burning of crop residues, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will take action against the smoke-emitting vehicles and motorcycles, while the Environment Protection Department (EPD) will act against the brick kilns, stone-crushing machines and shops burning tyres for oil extraction.

Municipal Corporations will carry out operations against garbage burning and the supply of building materials without cover, while the Health Department will monitor the disposal of hospitals' hazardous waste.

DC Hassan Waqar Cheema has ordered the registration of cases against all the persons and institutions causing smog, sealing the establishments immediately and demolishing the stone crusher machines that emit smoke.

Dr Inayat, the Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), has advised citizens to wear masks to protect themselves from smog, drink hot tea, soup or broth daily and cover their eyes from dust.

Sealing operation

The RTA seized 25 smoke-emitting vehicles and four motorcycles during the operation, while the Civil Defence Department sealed two factories, five bakeries, and nine workshops, which were emitting smoke.

Similarly, the EPD completely sealed seven stone-crushing machines and demolished one brick kiln.