CM constitutes a committee to find reasons of toxic blanket of pollutants

Lahore : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has set up a high-level committee to consider environmental situation due to severe smog in some cities of Punjab and adopting precautionary measures in this regard.

Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq will be convener of 20-member committee while Provincial Minister for Environment and Chief Secretary Punjab will be co-convener of the committee. Secretaries of departments concerned, Additional IG Traffic Punjab, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University, DG PDMA, Chief Meteorologist Lahore and experts in environment will be its members.

The committee will evolve an emergency plan for dealing with the situation arising out of smog as well as present recommendations for saving school-going children from its effects, averting threat of traffic accidents as well as promoting public awareness regarding protective measures.

The committee will submit its recommendations to the Chief Minister by tomorrow.

As per the atmosphere of Lahore and punjab in general… it’s not fog…. its SMOG …. a very thick toxic blanket of pollutants which is a threatening health hazard . Visibility on open areas and Motorway has decreased to 20-25 m.

This condition creates serious breathing ailments and eye infections… In countries elsewhere this climatic condition calls for emergency closing down of schools, public places so people could come in contact of this danger as less as possible..

Even now the smog has got more dense and people complain of feeling it inside their homes… burning eyes, and heavy breathing.
As a request, please minimise going out for long and if possible wear masks to protect yourself and your children . Eye wash should be used frequently to clear eyes.

The schools in general and govt in particular should take a step with immediate effect to cope with the situation. They should measure the Air Quality Index and take adequate measures.

Lets all pray to Allah for his blessings in the form of rain and forgive us .

Meanwhile ; a group of environmental activists is holding a day-long protest in front of the Environment Protection Agency, Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore tomorrow (3rd November, 2016) from 10 am to 5 pm against the inefficient environmental policy of the government that is taking away people’s right to breathe (clean air).