Environmental experts suggest complete lockdown in Lahore

• EPA requests citizens don't leave houses without emergency.
• Alert also directs citizens to get their vehicles fit right away.
• Safety measures to "protect" citizens from effects of smog.

LAHORE: Environmental experts have suggested imposing complete lockdown as high smog concentration in Lahore persists, with Monday's average Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 455, The News reported. 

The experts described the AQI of 455 as hazardous and stated that the government ought to enforce a total lockdown on the megacity if the situation does not improve.

According to data provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the city's average AQI was 455, whilst the AQI levels at Town Hall, Punjab University, and Shimla Hill were 530 (hazardous), 438, and 398, respectively.

Additionally, the EPA director general issued a smog alert, indicating that Lahore's average air quality index over the past 24 hours was 455 (as of Monday night), which is dangerous and alarming. 

The advisory stated that east winds, rising air humidity, decreasing wind speed, and temperature caused the city's AQI to rise. It also stated that the AQI is anticipated to jump as a result of increase in daytime temperature and drop in humidity.

In its alert, the EPA has requested the citizens to not to leave their houses without any emergency, use air purifiers or similar equipment, check important health issues like blood pressure and oxygen level etc. frequently, mandatory use of protective goggles to prevent contamination, check the AQI regularly, use N95 mask when going out was unavoidable, avoid prolonged and strenuous exercise, keep the windows and doors of the houses closed and do not stay in open places for a long time.

The alert also directed the citizens to get their vehicles fit immediately and not add to the smog. It warned that people suffering from respiratory and heart diseases should not exercise without the advice of their physician and should not leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

All these safety measures were being taken to protect children, elderly and all citizens from the negative effects of smog, EPA Director General Imran Hamid concluded. 

Meanwhile, in view of increasing smog and air pollution, the environment department has intensified the monitoring of development works. The EPA DG issued an order in this regard and said the fugitive dust rising from construction sites was the cause of air pollution.

The EPA DG said it was necessary to implement the construction SOPs to control the fugitive dust. He said dengue surveillance teams will also check construction sites, besides checking dengue and SOPs at construction sites.

Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari, while talking to the media, said that smog has become one of the biggest issues currently. When wind from India blows towards Pakistan, Lahore’s air becomes more polluted, she said, adding, "We were aware that efforts were also being made on the Indian Punjab side.”

She maintained that according to Monday’s data, Delhi ranks first for smog, while Lahore was second. Delhi’s air quality index was around 393, and Lahore’s was close to 280. Primary schools in Punjab have been given holidays due to the smog, she said and added that the Chief Minister of Punjab will soon write a letter to the CM of Indian Punjab.

Criticising the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Bokhari said when there was a forest fire in KP, their so-called revolutionary fire brigade didn’t even have money to refuel their vehicles. Tackling smog was not easy and China has been fighting it for the last 26 years.

On the other hand, Met Office said that continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country. The weather department predicted dry weather in most parts of the country, while cold in hilly areas during morning and night hours. Smog/light fog was likely to persist in most parts of the Punjab.

Monday’s lowest minimum temperature was recorded at Leh where mercury dropped down to -01°C while in Lahore it was 17.5°C and maximum was 31.3°C.