Experts want complete City lockdown

LAHORE:High concentration of smog over the provincial capital continued to prevail as the average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 455 here on Monday.

Environmental experts termed the AQI of 455 hazardous and expressed that if the situation will remain the same, the government should impose a complete lockdown in the city.Data released by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that the average AQI of the city was 455 while at Town Hall it was 530 (hazardous), Punjab University it was 438 and at Shimla Hill it was 398. EPA director general also issued a smog alert stating that during the last 24 hours, the average air quality index of Lahore was 455, which was dangerous and alarming. City’s AQI increased due to east winds, increase in air humidity, decrease in wind speed and temperature, the alert said, adding the AQI is expected to improve due to the increase in temperature and decrease in humidity during the day.

In its alert, the EPA has requested the citizens don’t leave the house without any emergency, use air purifiers or similar equipment, check important health issues like blood pressure and oxygen level etc. frequently, mandatory use of protective goggles to prevent contamination, check the AQI regularly, use N95 mask when going out was unavoidable, avoid prolonged and strenuous exercise, keep the windows and doors of the houses closed and do not stay in open places for a long time. The alert also directed the citizens to get their vehicles fit immediately and not add to the smog. It warned that people suffering from respiratory and heart diseases should not exercise without the advice of their physician and should not leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

All these safety measures were being taken to protect children, elderly and all citizens from the negative effects of smog, the DG EPA concluded.Meanwhile, in view of increasing smog and air pollution, the Environment Department has intensified the monitoring of development works. EPA DG issued an order in this regard and said the fugitive dust rising from construction sites was the cause of air pollution.

EPA DG Imran Hamid said it was necessary to implement the construction SOPs to control the fugitive dust. He said dengue surveillance teams will also check construction sites, besides checking dengue and SOPs at construction sites.

Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari while talking to the media said that smog has become one of the biggest issues currently. When wind from India blows towards Pakistan, Lahore’s air becomes more polluted, she said, adding, “We were aware that efforts were also being made on the Indian Punjab side.”

She maintained that according to Monday’s data, Delhi ranks first for smog, while Lahore was second. Delhi’s air quality index was around 393, and Lahore’s was close to 280. Primary schools in Punjab have been given holidays due to the smog, she said and added that the Chief Minister of Punjab will soon write a letter to the CM of Indian Punjab.

Criticising the KP government, Azma Bukhari said when there was a forest fire in KP, their so-called revolutionary fire brigade didn’t even have money to refuel their vehicles. Tackling smog was not easy and China has been fighting it for the last 26 years.

On the other hand, MET officials said that continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country. They predicted dry weather in most parts of the country, while cold in hilly areas during morning and night hours. Smog/light fog was likely to persist in most parts of the Punjab.Monday’s lowest minimum temperature was recorded at Leh where mercury dropped down to -01°C while in Lahore it was 17.5°C and maximum was 31.3°C.