‘Departmental liaison vital to combat smog’

LAHORE:The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EP&CCD) Punjab is intensifying efforts to combat air pollution through improved inter-departmental coordination, officials in the department revealed.

Secretary, EP&CCD, Raja Jahangir Anwar and Director General, EPA Punjab, Imran Hamid Sheikh, along with Ms Kanwal Liaquat, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, visited the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Lahore on Tuesday. The officials of the Pakistan Meteorological Department and RMC Lahore briefed the delegation on their operations, highlighting that the RMC oversees all surface observatories, meteorological offices, agro-meteorological stations, seismic stations, and automatic weather stations (AWS) in Punjab.

The meeting reaches a consensus to establish a robust framework for data sharing, model forecasting, and collaborative action. This initiative aims to improve Punjab's ability to address air quality challenges effectively and sustainably.

The delegation also visited the weather system observatory to observe data recording and analysis processes firsthand. During the discussions, Secretary Raja Jahangir proposed analysing Lahore's weather patterns over the past 25 years to identify trends contributing to the rise in smog and air pollution. He highlighted the recent expansion of the department's air quality monitoring network, with eight new Air Quality Monitoring Stations installed in Lahore and 30 across Punjab. Director General, EPA Punjab, Imran Hamid Sheikh emphasised the need for actionable insights through collaboration and stated, "Developing a forecasting model in partnership with key stakeholders is of vital importance to deal with emerging challenges of air pollution. This initiative will provide the actionable insights necessary to protect public health and improve environmental resilience.”