Heavy vehicles banned to combat smog

LAHORE:

In a move to tackle the rising smog levels in Lahore, the Punjab government has enforced a complete ban on the entry of heavy vehicles and those emitting smoke into the city.

This action, a part of an intensified anti-smog campaign, is being strictly implemented across all major entry points to Lahore.

The ban, which is being led by Lahore Traffic Police in collaboration with the Environmental and Mines Departments, aims to reduce hazardous air pollution levels affecting the city.

A total of twelve checkpoints have been established at key entry and exit routes around Lahore, all monitored by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) to ensure strict compliance.

Only essential vehicles, including those transporting fuel, medicines, food supplies, and passengers, are allowed to enter after undergoing thorough inspections.

According to Lahore's Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Ammara Athar, this measure is part of a broader crackdown launched over the past 24 hours. During this period, traffic police fined 1,180 smoke-emitting vehicles, collecting a total of Rs2.4 million in fines.

In addition, 98 sand-laden trolleys without proper coverings were penalised, amounting to fines of Rs200,000.

As many as 42 poorly maintained vehicles were impounded at local police stations.

CTO Ammara Athar further revealed that six joint teams are carrying out extensive operations around the city, focusing on vehicles carrying sand, cement, and other debris-prone materials.

In an effort to promote environmental awareness, traffic officers are also holding educational sessions at schools, colleges, bus stations, and public offices to teach citizens about reducing pollution.

The use of e-challan systems powered by artificial intelligence has also been activated, enabling the city to automatically track and fine violators of the anti-smog measures.

Ammara Athar appealed to the public to support the initiative, emphasising the importance of collective action in achieving a pollution-free environment.

She also urged transporters to comply with the government's anti-smog directives, stressing that these efforts are crucial for safeguarding clean air and public health.

Meanwhile, Punjab government has instructed the owners of all commercial plazas and shopping malls in the province to immediately install air purifiers.

The purpose of the instruction is to provide clean air to the people during shopping and business activities.

Sources said in the future, the government would seal the malls and plazas that would be without air purifiers.

However, some environment protection officials said that the major cause of smog is transport but the government has shut the schools and parks and now imposed the condition of installing air purifiers in plazas. They said the move would not have a significant impact on the smog.

The government advised the management and owners of all shopping malls and plazas through a notification to install adequate air purifiers because of the worst smog situation.

Punjab Environment Protection Director General Imran Sheikh mentioned the reasons of the need for the purifiers in the notification.

The worst smog level is being witnessed in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. Lahore and Multan have been among the most polluted cities of the world in recent days.

In view of the alarming situation in Lahore and other big cities, the educational institutions there had been shut last week, while the public parks had also been closed later.

The provincial government has also issued a schedule restricting the timings for markets.

However, an official of the department said there has been little effect of the measures on the roads. He said substandard vehicles were still found in Lahore and on the GT Road and motorway but the authorities had focused on actions against brick kilns and factories.

He raised the question why the smog problem had worsened despite the closure of schools and parks.