Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has imposed an environmental emergency in Lahore and has imposed a ban on burning crop residue across Punjab.
Chief Minister has said that an environmental emergency has been imposed to reduce smog and action will be taken to control the factors causing smog. Smog has been declared a disaster. He also said that negligence in the implementation of SOPs will not be tolerated and action should be taken against those who set crop residue on fire.
In addition, Elahi said that legal action should be continued against smoking vehicles without any discrimination.
Lahore continues to be number one in the most polluted cities of the world due to which colds, chest infections, fevers and respiratory diseases have started spreading rapidly among children and adults.
Lahore’s air quality index was recorded at 364.
More than 300 patients were being reported daily in Mayo Hospital alone while medical experts have advised citizens to go out wearing masks.
According to the Air Quality Index Karachi is ranked fourth in the world’s most polluted cities.
