Pakistan has decided to raise its voice internationally against India over air pollution, after smog levels in Lahore and other cities of Punjab reached alarming levels.
The Punjab government plans to present solid evidence against India at the upcoming Cape Environment Conference, highlighting cross-border pollution as a major environmental threat.
According to official sources, the Environment Department has begun collecting data on rising pollution levels following the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Authorities claim that around 15 Indian cities are contributing to worsening air quality in Punjab due to the burning of crop residues across the border.
Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb will represent Pakistan at the conference, where she will present the country’s case on the global stage. She stated that the current situation is a seasonal smog phase that lasts for about three months, but the winds from India worsen conditions in Punjab.
Provincial officials added that the Punjab government has taken record measures to improve the Air Quality Index (AQI) in just 16 days of October. These include launching the Punjab AQI App and Portal, as well as accelerating work on the region’s first Climate Observatory.
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Maryam Aurangzeb urged citizens, especially children and the elderly, to wear masks in the morning. She appealed for cooperation from farmers and industries to collectively improve air quality and win the fight against pollution.
