LAHORE: Smog has started building up in the city again after the rain had cleared its weather last week and it reached an ‘unhealthy level’ in some areas and crossed over to a dangerous level in other parts here on Monday.According to the environment department’s mapping, its three measuring stations at the Jail Road, Town Hall and Township reported 111, 128 and 42 US AQI, respectively. However, the level at Shahdara touched 361 and Rafaqat Chowk – a little down to Sheikhupura Road – hit 229.

Commenting on the situation, Khurram Shahzad, the director general (environment), thinks the build-up is a bit slow as compared to the last year due to the steps taken by the department.

“Almost 85pc of 7,500 brick kilns have already been closed down. Around 20pc of them have already been forced to adopt the zigzag technology, which reduces emission substantially. Smoke-emitting vehicles, the heaviest pollutant, are being challaned heavily and the industry, especially the one using rubber and plastic as fuel, is being taken offline.”

Mr Shahzad said though the build-up is slow but it did not mean that the problem was going away.

“It is a long way. But the journey has begun,” he claimed.

According to an official of the Met office, the next rain spell, which could bring some relief, is at least two weeks away and it is expected in the second week of December.

“It would be a heavy but short spell and would improve the conditions for the second half of the next month. But next two weeks would be really bad and the people need to take care of themselves.”

He advised the people to wear masks, keep themselves hydrated and that those with ailments like asthma must take extra care. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) stated that fines of Rs513,950 were imposed on Sunday and Rs636,250 on Saturday on violators.

In the last three days, 5,327 FIRs were registered and 478 people arrested over violation of smog policy; 8,579 vehicles were impounded, 2,148 industries sealed and 613 brick kilns closed down.

So far, 19.72 per cent of brick kilns have been converted to zigzag technology, according to statistics provided by the EPD.

A total of 7,515 kilns are in Punjab, of which 6,033 are old technology kilns, and 5,618 of these have been sealed. Only 1,482 kilns have converted to ZZT.

Also, a meeting attended by Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht and PDMA Director General Raja Khurram Shahzad Umar discussed the smog situation. Mr Bakht said temporary restrictions on industry and transportation are not the answer.

“The shift to industrial technology and electric vehicles is integral but purchases require time and resources, and these are being ensured. However changing social attitudes must be the first and foremost important strategy for us,” he said.The provincial minister said that bringing a change in social attitudes would not be possible without the involvement of civil society, educational institutions and the media. Students could be made part of tree planting campaigns while NGOs and organizations could promote pollution control activities at a local level. Research scholars must also introduce ideas for a healthy environment.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Babar Hayat Tard said the main cause of pollution in urban areas was the emissions from transport which made around 43 per cent of air pollution in Pakistan.

The Urban Development Unit chairman said that for the last 20 years no systematic traffic plan has been formulated in the city nor communication plans and coordination of various authorities for the construction of cities has been made. The present government is formulating a regular traffic plan with an appropriate plan for urban development.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020