In most large cities of the Punjab province in Pakistan, entry to parks, playgrounds, zoos and monuments has been banned for several days. The reason is the air quality deteriorating every day. In some places, the pollution level is many times higher than the permissible standards.
For a week now, the inhabitants of Pakistan's 100-million-strong Punjab province have been struggling with… smogwhich appears in this region every year in the autumn and winter. Cold air retains many pollutants from, among others, the burning of agricultural waste and exhaust fumes from cars. Smog also reaches Pakistan from India, where pollution levels are also high.
The situation, which is deteriorating day by day, has forced local authorities to take radical steps to protect the health of residents. On Friday, it was decided to temporarily close parks, zoos, playgrounds, historical monuments and recreational spaces. The entry ban will remain in force until November 17, but authorities do not rule out extending the restrictions.
Quality standards exceeded several dozen times
Currently, the air quality in the cities of Pinjab province is among the worst in the world. In Lahore, inhabited by 14 million people, the pollution level exceeds 1,000 and is many times higher than the standard set by the Swiss company IQAir. It is assumed that above 180 units the air quality is bad, and above 300 – dangerous.
A few days ago, in Punjab, schools in the most important cities were closed due to smog, and in the provincial capital, Lahore, it was banned to ride tuk-tuks (vehicles that act as taxis) or use barbecues.
– We are closely monitoring the situation. We are allowing the possibility of closing universities on Monday to reduce emissions from cars, said Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Punjab Environment Protection Department.
The situation in India is terrible
Extreme smog also affects northern regions of India. In the province of Delhi, where the capital of the country is located, the air quality also exceeds permissible standards many times.
The situation in recent days has been aggravated by the celebration of the national festival of Diwali, where fireworks were used. Due to the smog, Indian doctors are also reporting an increase in the number of patients reporting respiratory problems. In New Delhi the scenario of causing artificial rain to alleviate contamination is being considered.
Main photo source: Reuters