Air Pollution Alert!! No More Euro-2 Fuel in Lahore
Winter is coming, folks. And you know what that means: SMOG! It’s mid-November, and you can’t see anything on the road except a thick layer of smog after five o’clock in Lahore. Amid this wave of air pollution, the Punjab government has decided to ban Euro-2 fuel in the city from December.
Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht chaired a meeting with the anti-smog committee at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) head office on Tuesday and directed the Lahore division commissioner to ensure supply of only high-quality fuel in the city.
Air Quality of Lahore
The atmosphere in Lahore has been ‘very unhealthy’ for the past few days, and it will continue to get worse in the coming months. Environmental experts have warned that PM2.5 concentration in Lahore air is currently 30.8 times above the WHO annual air quality guideline value, which is very harmful for humans and animals alike.
Punjab Govt’s Action Plan
To fight the air pollution in Lahore, the Punjab government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all Euro-2 fuel producers and suppliers upgrade to new technology. Here’s the course of action Punjab Finance Minister Bakht shared with the officials.
- Closure of factories running without scrubbers
- Closure of obsolete brick kilns
- Strict action against industrial units burning tyre, rubber, and plastic
- Strict action against the burning of crop residue and garbage
- Seizure of vehicles causing environmental pollution in the city
- Installation of smoke controlling devices on all vehicles
Concluding the session, the minister asked the provincial transport department, environment department, police department, and everyone else for their cooperation. He also appealed to the citizens to limit the use of their vehicles voluntarily and use public transport.
These are tough times for all of us in Lahore. Please wear facemask and glasses in open spaces and avoid unnecessary visits in smog. Stay safe, everyone!