LAHORE – The Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on public entry in parks and other recreational sites to minimize exposure of the citizens to the hazardous smog.
On Friday, Lahore’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 511. AQI of 400-500 is considered hazardous.
Public will not be allowed entry to recreational sites in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan divisions till November 17, 2024.
As per the notification issued by Punjab Environmental Protection (EPA) Director General (DG) Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh on Friday, general public of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan will not allow entry in all parks, zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums joy/play lands.
The recent spike in respiratory diseases due to smoke, dust etc is posing a serious and imminent threat to public health. Hence, it is imperative to take all possible safety measures for prevention of morbidity and disease caused by deteriorating air quality.
The Health Advisory System for Critical Air Pollution Events (HAS-CAPES) has been notified on 13.12.2022 under which the 1st meeting of Provincial CAPEs Committee (PCC) was held on 21.10.2024 which declared that Critical Air Pollution Event has taken place in Lahore, keeping In view the current high levels of Air Quality Index (AQ1).
“I, Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh (PAS), Director General, Environmental Protection Agency, Punjab in exercise of the powers conferred upon me u/s 6(1) (t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, do hereby order complete ban on public entry in all parks (public & private), zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/play lands”, reads the notification.
“The order shall come into force with effect from 8th November and shall remain in force till 17th November 2024 within the jurisdictions of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan Divisions”, the notification further reads.
As such, the ban is effective in districts of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari and Khanewal.
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