Punjab govt establishes special cell to monitor smog: Buzdar
\n LAHORE
\nDense and shallow patches of fog and smog continue to blanket Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions where people have been complaining of breathing difficulties and irritable eyes for the last few days.
\nThe AQI Index of Lahore was recorded above 500 throughout last week. At one point, the provincial capital was declared the most polluted city in the world as well.
\nThe crisis seems to be tightening its vice around Lahore as the weather changes. Other cities most affected by air pollution include Sahiwal, Faisalabad, and Raiwind.
\nToday, an Air Quality Index of 370 was recorded in Lahore early morning and was deemed hazardous. Due to the smog, visibility levels throughout cities were reduced, causing problems for commuters and leading to serious health issues such as flu, cough, throat infection, breathing problems, and chest pain.
\nAccording to doctors, more than 120 smog infections are being reported in the province on a daily basis.
\nMeanwhile, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) says the foggy and smoggy conditions will stay today across Punjab.
\nEarlier, the Punjab government issued a notification to reduce 50% of staff at private offices and said that half of the private-sector employees will work from home.
\nThe Lahore Commissioner has banned the use of Euro II petrol and diesel in Lahore for one month and instructed people to use Euro V to eradicate smog problems.
\nHe also ordered the authorities to spray water at different streets and roads to curb the smog.
\nMeanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said on Saturday that smog has been declared natural calamity in the province.
\nIn a statement, Usman Buzdar said a special monitoring cell has been established in Provincial Disaster Management Authority to monitor the situation of smog round the clock.
\nThe Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to remain vigilant and take action against vehicles, factories and brick kilns spreading pollution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Punjab govt establishes special cell to monitor smog: Buzdar LAHORE Dense and shallow patches of fog and smog continue to blanket Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions where people have been complaining of breathing difficulties and irritable eyes for the last few days. The AQI Index of Lahore was recorded above 500 throughout last week. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":228744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[594,593,232,437,595],"class_list":{"0":"post-228716","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-disrupt-life","9":"tag-fog","10":"tag-punjab","11":"tag-smog","12":"tag-usman-buzdar"},"yoast_head":"\n