PMA terms govt’s smog measures mere eyewash

LAHORE : Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Lahore has termed the government's smog emergency and green lockdown in Punjab mere eyewash.

"The government has failed miserably to fulfill its responsibility as Lahore and Multan are considered among the most polluted cities in the world," said PMA, Lahore leadership while addressing a press conference here at PMA House on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, PMA Lahore chapter President Dr Ashraf Nizami, General Secretary Dr Shahid Shaukat Malik along with PMA Centre President-elect Dr Izhar Ahmad Ch and other Lahore chapter office-bearers, said that the throat, respiratory and skin ailments and conjunctivitis diseases have increased alarmingly and smog has become a national disaster.

"A long-term strategy is needed to control it," they said, adding that simply issuing health advisories and reducing outdoor hours is not a solution. They said that smog has become a social, environmental, economic, legal and international problem, which has pushed human beings into the quagmire of disaster. They said that the Deputy Commissioners concerned, Secretary Transport and Chief Traffic Officers who had the responsibility to immediately stop the burning of crops, smoke-emitting vehicles, factories, had miserably failed.

They called upon people to raise their voice for the practical elimination of all forms of pollution, and force the government to immediately eliminate all types of smog-emitting vehicles, polluting factories and other triggers.

The ban on crop burning in farm fields should be implemented in the real sense. An even and odd strategy should be adopted for private vehicles. They also urged the government to immediately make the announcement to give free air purifiers to people suffering from respiratory diseases.