The Environment Department Punjab (EDP) is regularly monitoring the pollution particles in the air through its six air-monitoring stations which are fully operational and working continuously. "Indian farmers had set the remnants of their rice crop on fire in different areas of UP, Ambala, Amritsar and others like last year. But fortunately Pakistan is safe from smoke emitting from the fires because of favourable direction of air.
Nevertheless, the department has already communicated with all the provincial departments to take steps for avoiding smog incidence this year," said the Environment Minister Punjab Begum Zakia Shahnawaz. The Minister said the provincial agriculture department had been directed not to let our farmers set their crops on fire so as not to create the menace of smog and pollution for ourselves. Likewise, traffic police has been asked to take action against smoke emitting vehicles and create plans to avoid traffic jams.
The Minister said that the home department had been asked to issue directives of imposing Section 144 in all the cities on setting garbage on fire during the smog. She said action is being taken by the department against industrial units creating environment pollution in Lahore and surrounding areas as well as against those using substandard fuel during night so as to put a stop on emission of carbon. The Minister said this while presiding over a meeting to review steps taken against smog here on Thursday.