The enforcement of smog control measures persists in Lahore.
A crackdown is being implemented in response to the escalating smog menace, as directed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore, Amara Athar, announced that the campaign against smoke-emitting automobiles is in progress, having amassed about Rs55 million in the current year of 2024.
Traffic authorities imposed penalties on 26,128 automobiles spewing smoke, resulting in fines above 50 million rupees. Furthermore, 11,000 cars conveying sand, mud, and other contaminants without adequate covers were penalized Rs5.4 million.
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Six collaborative teams, comprising personnel from the Traffic Police, Environmental Protection Agency, and Mines Department, have been established to implement regulations in Punjab to combat the pollution issue.
The crews will implement safety protocols at extraction locations and rectify infractions related to exposed and arid loads. Amara Athar asserted that only vehicles equipped with protective coverings and water sprinklers will be authorized on the roadways, while all DSPs will execute special operations at the city’s entry and exit points.
Lahore continues to be the most polluted city globally according to the AQI.
The AQI index study recommended that residents of Lahore refrain from outdoor exercise, keep windows closed to prevent the infiltration of polluted air, wear masks when outside, and operate air purifiers to ensure clean air indoors.
During winter, the air density increases relative to summer, resulting in the descent of toxic particles in the atmosphere and contributing to pollution. A layer of contaminated particles, comprising significant quantities of carbon and smoke, envelops a region.
Experts noted that the smoke generated from the combustion of agricultural residues, industrial emissions, and the incineration of coal, waste, oil, or tires infiltrates the atmosphere, with its effects becoming evident with the approach of winter and persisting until the season concludes.