[ad_1]
LAHORE: As smog worsened in several Punjan districts, the Punjab government has restricted all outdoor activities in pollution-hit districts including Lahore and Multan, effective from today.
The provincial government implemented the lockdown-like measure after the toxic air spread from Lahore to Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad districts, reaching hazardous levels.
Earlier, the authorities had closed schools in several Punjab cities to protect students from toxic smog and banned entry into parks, zoos, and other open-air public places last week in an effort to minimize the cause and effect of air pollution.
An official notification issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated, “The average AQI of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala districts has crossed the critical limit of 500 which is alarmingly hazardous for human health and wellbeing.”
The notification signed by Director General EPA Dr. Imran Hamid Sheik wrote “Section 6(1) (t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997, empowers EPA to take all necessary measures for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation, and improvement of the environment, prevention, and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development.”
Taking the measures, EPA ordered the closure of all outdoor activities including outdoor sports events, exhibitions and festivals, and outdoor dining of restaurants with the exemption of religious gatherings.
Besides the suspension of all outdoor activities, markets and shopping malls have been directed to close by 8 pm.
However, religious congregations, unavoidable religious rites including the last rites, funeral prayer, burial, and related events have been exempted from the ban.
However, pharmacies, medical facilities, medical laboratories, vaccination centers, petrol pumps, oil depots, tandoors, bakeries, grocery stores, dairy shops, sweet shops, vegetable/fruit shops, and meat shops have been exempted from the restrictions.
E-commerce/postal services, utility services, and grocery/pharmacy sections of large departmental stores will remain open after the 8 pm deadline, the notification added.
“Any other exemption, if deemed necessary, may be given by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district,” the notification read.
The ban on outdoor activities will come into effect from today (November 11) till November 17, and any contravention of this order will be punished under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that further instructions in this regard will be issued on November 17.
Residents in Lahore have been battling smog for weeks as the AQI remained hazardous on Monday, again ranking first in the most polluted big cities in the world.
The toxic air has floated to other districts of the province, as on Monday, Multan topped the country with the worst air quality index of 924, hovering above the “hazardous” category.
Besides Lahore and Multan, a thick layer of smog shrouded Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, and several other major cities of Punjab.
[ad_2]
Source link
