LAHORE – The Punjab government has directed closure of shops, markets and shopping malls in Lahore and other smog-hit districts by 8 pm.
The Punjab has also restricted all outdoor activities including sports events, exhibitions and festivals, dining beyond 8 pm.
The restrictions will be applicable in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan till November 17, 2024.
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.
Subsequently the Critical Air Pollution Events have also taken place in districts of Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala in last week. The average AQI of these districts has crossed the critical limit of 500 which is alarmingly hazardous for human health and wellbeing.
An unprecedented rise in the number of patients with lungs and respiratory diseases, allergies, eye and throat irritation, pink eye disease is being observed. The spread of conjunctivitis/pink eye disease due to bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust or chemical exposure is posing a serious and imminent threat to public health.
“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 the following restrictions in districts of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad & Gujranwala”, the notification reads.
The restrictions include closure of all outdoor activities including outdoor sports events, exhibitions and festivals, outdoor dining of restaurants with the exemption of religious congregations, unavoidable religious rites including but not limited to the last rites, Namaz- e-Janaza, burial and related events.
The restrictions also include closure of shops, markets and shopping malls at 8 pm. However, pharmacies/medical stores, medical facilities, laboratories, vaccination centers, petrol pumps, oil depots, tandoors, bakeries, grocery/karyana stores, milk/dairy shops, sweet shops, vegetable/fruit shops, chicken/meat shops, e-commerce/postal/courier services and utility services (electricity, natural gas, internet, cellular networks/telecom are exempted from these restrictions.
Large departmental stores may only keep their grocery/pharmacy sections open while all others sections will remain closed.
