LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday attributed the worsening smog in Lahore and central Punjab to easterly winds carrying polluted air from India’s border regions. Officials said high PM2.5 levels in Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana were affecting Lahore and Kasur, while calm winds trapped pollutants near the ground during nights and early mornings.
Meteorological factors, including a rapid drop in temperature, rising humidity, and an inversion layer, prevented pollutants from dispersing upward, resulting in Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 386 early Wednesday. The AQI improved slightly during the day but remained hazardous, affecting Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad.
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The government insisted that its anti-smog strategy under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Clean Air Mission was yielding results. Measures include drone monitoring, sealing smoke-emitting industrial units, deploying 5,000 super seeders to reduce stubble burning, and shifting brick kilns to white-smoke systems. Vehicle inspections and e-fitness certification have also been intensified.
Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan reported strict enforcement against smoke-emitting vehicles, with thousands fined or impounded in recent weeks. Citizens were urged to cooperate, avoid outdoor activity during low-visibility hours, and report smog-related issues through the Green Punjab portal.
The Punjab Horticulture Authority is simultaneously accelerating tree-washing campaigns and plantation drives across 10 districts to improve air quality. Officials emphasized that combined efforts in industrial regulation, transport enforcement, and greenery expansion are critical for a smog-free Punjab.
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