Smog crisis: Lockdown, health emergency imposed in Punjab cities

All schools, colleges, and universities shift to online classes: Maryam Aurangzeb

The Punjab government has announced a lockdown in Lahore and Multan for three days a week due to the worsening smog situation.

Senior Punjab minister Mariyum Aurangzeb confirmed that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will see a lockdown in both cities, with a review scheduled for next Wednesday, Express News reported.

In her press conference, Aurangzeb also stated that a health emergency has been declared in Lahore and Multan. All doctors and paramedical staff have had their holidays canceled, and schools, colleges, and universities in these cities will shift to online classes. All public and private institutions across Punjab, except for Murree, will remain closed.

A new campaign, named "Detox Lahore," will be launched to address the smog crisis. Restaurants will be restricted to takeaway services after 4 PM, and brick kilns and furnace-based industries will remain closed for a week.

Aurangzeb emphasized that smog is not a short-term issue, and the government is preparing 3-month action plans to tackle the crisis over the next year. She referred to smog as a national disaster affecting not just Lahore, but also Abbottabad and Multan.

The senior minister mentioned that several departments have been assigned targets to address the smog issue, which has now become a health crisis.

The government has received proposals from various organizations, including WWF, and has integrated these suggestions into the Chief Minister's plan.

Additionally, she noted that for the first time, a 10-year plan to address smog has been developed, which includes measures like the introduction of electric bikes, reducing emissions from vehicles, and the closure of over 800 brick kilns.

The government is also focusing on vehicle fitness checks, with new stations set up in Lahore for the certification of vehicle emissions.