Roadmap for Smog Mitigation in Punjab 2024-2025: Towards a Smog-Free Punjab. Maryam Orgzaib

Punjab launches a comprehensive smog mitigation roadmap for 2024-2025 to address severe air pollution in Lahore and other cities.

Date: October 7, 2024
Reporter: Imtiyaz Ali Abbasi
Posted by Daily Watts Newspaper, The largest digital English news network in Pakistan

Lahore: The Punjab government has launched an extensive roadmap for smog mitigation for the years 2024-2025, with the vision of achieving a smog-free Punjab. This initiative comes as Lahore continues to grapple with a severe smog crisis, turning its once vibrant skies into a grey, suffocating blanket.

Punjab, with a population of over 127.691 million, contributes more than 54% to the national GDP. However, it faces environmental challenges due to the rapid rise in air pollution and the subsequent smog season, which now stretches from October to January. During this period, urban and industrialized cities in Punjab are covered by a thick layer of smog, driven by climate-induced factors such as low wind speeds, high humidity, and temperature inversion.

The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has taken proactive steps to address this environmental issue. The roadmap focuses on comprehensive sectoral reforms aimed at reducing smog and improving air quality across the province.

Key Initiatives:

Smog-Less Punjab Initiative

Mass Transit Reforms: Transition to greener, eco-friendly public transport to reduce vehicular emissions.
Fuel Quality Monitoring: Stricter inspection of fuel quality to minimize pollution from vehicles.
Industrial Emission Control: Rigorous monitoring of industries for compliance with emission standards.
Urban Forest Plantation: Massive tree plantation drives and development of urban forests.
Technological Interventions: Use of drones, thermal cameras, and monitoring units for real-time surveillance of smog hotspots.

Strategic Phases:

Phase 1: Formation of committees and task forces in April 2024 to devise actionable plans for pollution control.
Phase 2: Enforcement of regulations targeting high-emission sectors like brick kilns and factories.
Phase 3: In-season actions during peak smog months, including emergency response and pollution control measures.

Government Response:

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized that addressing the smog crisis is a top priority. Her vision, "A Smog-Less Lahore," reflects the government’s dedication to improving public health and environmental conditions. She also highlighted the following programs:

Smog Monitoring Unit (SMU): A dedicated team overseeing daily activities via a centralized “Smog Dashboard”.
Mera Punjab Smog-Free Internship Program: Engaging the youth in environmental protection initiatives.
Green Mass Transit Program: Promotion of electric vehicles and public transport reforms.
Agriculture Reforms: Providing farmers with Super Seeders and Rice Shredders to reduce stubble burning, a significant contributor to smog.

Conclusion:

With a detailed roadmap in place, the Punjab government is determined to combat the increasing threat of smog. These comprehensive measures aim to bring back clearer skies and promote a healthier environment for the people of Punjab.

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