LAHORE – Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has shared a formula to combat menace of smog, saying that the change in lifestyle could help reduce it.
Azma Bokhari expressed her concerns over recent news regarding air quality in Multan and Faisalabad, saying that Faisalabad, being an industrial hub, faced particular challenges.
“Our entire government machinery is active on the roads, and over the past eight months, many brick kilns have been demolished. We are transitioning brick kilns to zigzag technology, and those not adopting this technology will not be allowed to operate in Punjab,” she said.
Azma said that smog is not a problem unique to Pakistan; cities like Beijing have been tackling it for the last 26 years.
“They are also working to reduce smog, even relocating industries outside Beijing,” said the minister.
Bokhari highlighted that the Pakistani government is taking steps to address the smog issue and pointed out that the government in Delhi also needed to act, as India is equally concerned about air pollution.
She acknowledged that while a large country like China had room to establish industries outside urban areas, Pakistan’s cities are closely spaced, complicating such measures.
She mentioned that letters regarding smog have been sent to the Indian Foreign Office, though it is unclear whether they have been received.
Azma Bokhari added that India also showed readiness to collaborate on smog reduction efforts, suggesting that cooperation on this issue could lead to “smog diplomacy,” which could benefit both nations.
She said, “India must work on this issue, as they have no other choice. We must protect our people,”.
She also briefly noted that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had been unwell recently, emphasizing the health impact of poor air quality.
