Pakistan's Punjab province shuts public places in smog-hit cities

 Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Agencies

Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab ordered public spaces closed in smog-hit main cities, authorities said on Friday, as the country battles record

A day ago, Lahore’s air pollution reached unprecedented levels, ranking it as the world’s most polluted city for the past 48 hours, as dense smog blankets major districts of Punjab.

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to alarming heights, surpassing 1,000 in some areas, a level deemed hazardous for public health and safety. Friday’s notification put a "complete ban on public entry in all parks (public & private), zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/playlands” from Nov 8 till Nov 17.

The ban encompasses 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.

The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lahore's air was more than 20 times higher than the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In Multan, it was up to 48 times higher on Friday.

On Friday, a court in Lahore also ordered the government to shut all markets after 8pm. Authorities have already banned barbecuing food without filters and ordered wedding halls to close by 10pm.

The new restrictions went into effect for ten days in 18 districts of Punjab province, including the provincial capital of Lahore, where a twilight gloom lingered over the city, limiting visibility to about 100 meters.

The closures apply to all public parks, zoos and museums, historical places, and playgrounds. Schools and government offices already had been closed until Nov.17.

Toxic smog has shrouded Lahore, a city of 14 million people, and other parts of Punjab since last month, and health officials say more than 30,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments in smog-hit districts.

Sajid Bashir, the spokesperson for the Environment Protection Department in Punjab, said the new restrictions were aimed keeping people at home so that they are better protected from the record pollution.

"Instead of staying at home, parents and children were visiting these places,” Bashir said. "We want people to stay at home and avoid unnecessarily traveling,” he said.

Bashir said Lahore was the world’s most polluted city on Friday, with Air Quality Index readings of over 600. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health. The city had a record-high reading Wednesday of over 1,100.

Doctors say people living in the smog-hit areas should wear face masks or risk damaging their lungs. "Breathing in Lahore air without wearing a face mask is equivalent to smoking dozens of cigarettes a day,” Dr Hafeezur Rehman, who has a medical practice in Lahore.

An especially high surge of respiratory-related ailments has been reported in Multan, which is one of the worst-hit districts. Officials say they are ensuring that there is no shortage of medicine in smog-hit districts.

School closures announced earlier in smog-hit districts will affect the education of more than 20 million students, according to associations representing private and government schools.

Khuram Gondal, Pakistan director for the Save the Children charity, urged the government to urgently implement long-term solutions to the pollution problem so that children will not need to miss classes in the future.