With AQI recorded at 688 Lahore again ranked as world’s most polluted city

Lahore retained its top position on the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 688, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Due to extremely high pollution levels, people of the city have started falling sick.

The AQI over the DHA Phase-8 locality of the Punjab capital was recorded at 1391, followed by CERPO office where it stood at 918.

Similarly, it was 826 over Syed Maratab Ali Road, 723 at The Mall, 692 at Ghazi Road Interchange, 635 over the US consulate, and 624 over Askari-10.

It was partly cloudy in the city while the chances of rain were only two per cent. Cool breeze was blowing at the speed of five kilometers per hour, while maximum temperature was expected to touch 29 degrees Celsius later in the day.

The humidity level was recorded at 90 per cent.

Smog situation in other Punjab cities

The situation was no different in other Punjab cities such as Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Narowal and others as smog as well as fog reduced visibility considerably in these cities, creating a lot of inconvenience for motorists.

The AQI in Faisalabad stood at 266 while it was 479 at Multan.

The AQI in Gujranwala was recorded at 220, which made it difficult for the people to breathe.

There were also reports of people landing at hospitals with eye, throat and chest infections.  

Dense smog was notice in WAPDA Town and Khayali areas of the city in the morning and evening.

Likewise, smog in and around Narowal has not only taken its toll on people’s health, but has also forced traffic to move at a snail’s pace.

Farmers have been asked not to burn the residue of their crops.

DC Narowal Hassan Raza has warned farmers of action if they are caught red-handed.

Smog has also made the lives of people in Hafizabad miserable as farmers are busy burning the residue of rice crop, while smoke-emitting vehicles are plying on the city roads.    

Doctors advise people to exercise caution

Realizing the gravity of the situation, doctors have advised people to first avoid going outside unnecessarily and prefer to remain indoors, and if going outside is really necessary, wear facemasks before stepping out of their homes.

 

Punjab Police swing into action against polluters

On the other hand, the Punjab Police, while enumerating the steps they have taken against the people contributing to air pollution on the order of Punjab IGP Dr. Usman Anwar, said that they had registered 104 cases besides arresting 25 persons in different districts of the province during the last 24 hours. 

Similarly, the Force said fines totalling over Rs700,000 had also been imposed on 424 polluters, while warning had been given to 36 persons. 

Punjab govt found violating SOPs

Despite the fact that the Punjab government should lead from the front in battle against smog. Yet it has been found violating the standard operating procedures devised to cut down pollution levels.

Work on a development project is currently underway at Walton Road. But neither the project site has been surrounded by a green sheet nor water is being sprinkled so that dust could settle.  

 

Reporters: Afshan Rizwan, Samra Fatima, Komal Aslam, Abid Chaudhry, Bassam Sultan, Zahid Iqbal Rana and Yasir Arafat, Mian Mazhar, Maryam Raza, Salman Zameer