LAHORE Oct 31 (TNS): A blanket of thick smog has enveloped Lahore and adjoining regions in central Punjab, reducing visibility and resulting in breathing difficulties and irritable eyes for residents.
Visibility plunged to 200-300m on the motorway early Tuesday morning, as thick smog – an unwanted by-product of fog and pollution – continued to persist in the air, disrupting transportation.
Motorway police has issued instructions to drivers to reduce speed and switch on fog lights to avoid any unfortunate incident.
Chief Meteorologist Mohammad Riaz attributed lack of rain, pollution, and smoke from vehicles, factories and burnt crops to the worsening smog situation in the provincial capital.
He said the pollution could only be washed away by rain or strong winds.
Director Environment Protection of the Punjab Environment Department Naseem-ur-Rehman shed light on a number of preventative measures that have been adopted to deal with the persisting smog.
He said Section 144 has been enforced in the province till December 16 to bar farmers from burning leftover crops waste – a contributor to smog. FIR will be registered against violators, he added.
The director said that around 150 factories causing heavy pollution in the region have been closed down.
City traffic police has also been requested to make special traffic arrangements to avoid traffic jams, which further fuel the smog situation, he added.
Dr Khalid Hussain from Services Hospital said that heavy smog was a major cause of road accidents due to poor visibility. He has advised people to move around with face masks to protect themselves from breathing problems, eye, nose and throat infections.
According to noted climate expert Dr Mehmood Khalid Qamar, fresh readings obtained through the recently installed monitoring equipment showed the level of carbon monoxide at 21.29 milligram per metre on the Mall Road, 17.52 in Mohlanwal, and 6.94 in Gulberg’s Liberty Market, against the maximum permissible limit of 5 mpm.
Residents took to Twitter to share pictures of the smog and their experiences.
