As Punjab grapples with hazardous smog, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb declared on Friday that the issue had now turned into a “health crisis”.
Dense smog, caused by toxic pollutants, has engulfed several cities in Punjab over the past few weeks, with Lahore and Multan being the worst hit. The AQI reading in Multan has already crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record for air pollution.
This rise in pollution has turned the air toxic, impacting the health of people across all age groups. In a month, Punjab has seen almost two million cases of breathing problems and other respiratory diseases, with a surge in complaints of asthma, conjunctivitis, and heart disease as well.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Aurangzeb said: “At the moment, the smog [crisis] has turned into a health crisis.
“Smog is one aspect of climate change,” she said, highlighting that the Punjab government prepared a 10-year climate change policy for the first time, which covered various issues, such as floods, natural disasters, rehabilitation, recovery, and vulnerable areas.
Referring to the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) calls for a long-term plan to tackle the issue, the minister said: “The Punjab chief minister has made a 10-year plan for smog, together with all sectors and departments, and the sectors were given targets.”
Aurangzeb said she would like to brief the LHC herself about the policy, noting that various factors contributing to smog included “transport, agriculture, energy, our habits, our behaviour and our actions towards nature”.
The minister thanked the civil society, nongovernmental organisations and private organisations for making suggestions to combat smog.
Referring to a letter written by WWF-Pakistan to Prime Minister Shehbaz, Aurangzeb claimed: “The things they have suggested are part of this mitigation plan for the past eight months. Every single thing.”
The plan, titled ‘Roadmap for Smog Mitigation in Punjab (2024-2025)’, says it details “Smog Mitigation Actions” taken from January to October this year.
The minister invited experts and organisations to identify gaps in it, asserting that the government would fill them.
However, the PML-N leader stressed: “This would not end in six months or a year. This is a long-term process but we have kept three-month targets.”
“It’s a long-term, short-term and medium-term plan,” she stated.
The PML-N leader also urged journalists and vloggers to “become part of the government” by creating awareness about smog. “Criticise [us] but also use that mic to create awareness about smog.”
Meanwhile, Punjab Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar hinted at a “complete lockdown” if the current smog situation persisted.
Responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the nation collectively turned to Allah in Salat al-Istisqa (prayers for rain) on Friday, with the central congregation held at the iconic Faisal Mosque in the Federal Capital.
A large number of worshippers, including families and community leaders, attended the prayer, demonstrating a united front against the ongoing dry spell that has exacerbated environmental and health challenges, including smog.
The special prayers were offered immediately after the weekly ‘Jummah,’ (Friday) prayers, with clerics urging people to seek forgiveness and turn towards righteous deeds as a means to invoke Allah’s mercy.
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