LAHORE
\nPunjab\u2019s caretaker government has decided to lift the restrictions imposed to combat the adverse impacts of environmental pollution following Friday\u2019s heavy spell of rain in parts of Punjab. \u201cAfter assessing improved air quality post recent rainfall, in consultation with experts and [the] Punjab environment department, we\u2019ve decided to lift the lockdown,\u201d caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on X, erstwhile Twitter.
\n\u201cMarkets open tomorrow, and restaurants can resume operations after 6 pm. The recent restrictions related to SMOG will be lifted from tomorrow morning. All educational institutes will remain close till Sunday,\u201d added the interim CM.
\nAuthorities in Punjab revised a previously-imposed lockdown in multiple districts of the province on Thursday.
\nThese districts included Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, Nankana Sahib, Hafizabad, Sialkot and Narowal.
\nMarkets in these districts were allowed to operate on Thursday and Friday. Shopping malls and markets these districts remained shut on Saturday and will remain close on Sunday as well, according to the notification issued Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab government declared a smog emergency throughout the province in an effort to combat the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
\nAfter the reprimanding of the Lahore commissioner for neglecting the critical issue of the environment by the Lahore High Court, Punjab\u2019s caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi had convened a meeting with provincial ministers and department heads to brainstorm with environmental and health experts and devise strategies to mitigate the effects of smog.
\nDue to its unhealthy air quality, Lahore city has consistently ranked among the top three cities with the most polluted air in recent weeks, according to IQAir rankings.
\nDuring the meeting, experts had provided information on measures to reduce smog and its effects, emphasising the importance of preventive measures.
\nThe caretaker chief minister had accentuated that all relevant government departments should work diligently to effectively combat smog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Punjab\u2019s caretaker government has decided to lift the restrictions imposed to combat the adverse impacts of environmental pollution following Friday\u2019s heavy spell of rain in parts of Punjab. \u201cAfter assessing improved air quality post recent rainfall, in consultation with experts and [the] Punjab environment department, we\u2019ve decided to lift the lockdown,\u201d caretaker Chief Minister […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-367640","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n