Pollution level in Lahore recorded 80 times more than WHO limit

Air pollution in Pakistan's second biggest city Lahore soared on Saturday more than unprecdented 80 times over the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organization (WHO), with an official calling it record high.

The level of deadly PM2.5 pollutants -- fine particulate matter in the air that causes the most damage to health -- peaked at 1,067, before dropping to around 300 in the morning, with anything above 10 considered unhealthy by the WHO.

"We have never reached a level of 1,000," Jahangir Anwar, a senior environmental protection official in Lahore told AFP.

For days, Lahore has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and winter cooling.

"The air quality index will remain high for the next three to four days," Anwar said.

Smog continued to haunt the people of Lahore as the city again topped the list of the world’s most-polluted cities on Saturday with the air quality index (AQI) in the city topped 1000, making the mockery of tall claims made by the Punjab government that it was taking steps to bring down the pollution levels, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Strong winds, laden with thick smoke, blowing from India exacerbated the problem while the weathermen forecast that the situation would persist during the next 48 hours.

USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released the map, detailing how polluted air was entering Pakistan from India.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore on Saturday, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will soon write a letter to her counterpart in Indian Punjab suggesting joint efforts to combat worsening smog.

Azma Bukhari said the chief minister was on her heels for the elimination of smog in the province. “For the first time in Punjab several brick-kilns were demolished in order to tackle the smog,” she added.

On Wednesday last, the provincial environmental protection agency announced new restrictions in four "hot spots" in the city.

Tuk-tuks equipped with polluting two-stroke engines are banned, as are restaurants that barbecue without filters.

Government offices and private companies will have half their staff work from home from Monday.

Construction work has been halted and street and food vendors, who often cook over open fires, must close at 8 pm.

Smog is particularly pronounced in winter, when cold, denser air traps emissions from poor-quality fuels used to power the city's vehicles and factories at ground level.

Earlier, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb appealed to the residents of the provincial capital to restrict themselves to their homes and avoid travelling unnecessarily. “And if going outside is inevitable, wear facemasks before stepping out of your homes. Especially those suffering from chest infection, heart disease and aged people should avoid going outside,” she advised.

Police arrest 1,035 during ongoing crackdown

The Punjab Police, on the other hand, while giving details of its operation against the people spreading pollution, said that they had arrested 1,035 persons and registered 1,330 cases.

The spokesman for the Force said that only in Lahore, 73 people had been taken into custody, while 184 cases had been registered.

“Over 686,000 drivers, whose vehicles were found emitting smoke, were challaned during the current year while 152640 vehicles were impounded,” he explained.

Similarly, the spokesman went on to say, the fitness certificates of 9,993 most smoke-emitting vehicles were cancelled. “Fines totaling millions of rupees were also slapped on the drivers whose vehicles were found to be contributing to pollution.”   

On the other hand, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar has ordered speeding up the crackdown on the people whose actions are contributing to smog in the province. “Identify the cars, which emit the smoke the most with the help of safe city cameras,” he has ordered.

He has said that the provincial police are extending their full support to the environment department for the eradication of smog as action is being taken against smoke-emitting vehicles, factories and the farmers burning the residue of their crops.   

Reporters: Komal Aslam and Irfan Malik