Islamabad, Nov 4: Air Quality Crisis, Islamabad Imposes Ban on Smoke-Emitting Vehicles and Factories. The federal government has made steps to shield its inhabitants from Islamabad’s deteriorating pollution. To lessen pollution, the government has outlawed burning rubbish and crops, as well as factories, brick kilns, and automobiles that create smoke.
This two-month ban is an immediate response to the health concerns that smog poses and is enforced under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Officials stressed the significance of reducing pollution to safeguard public health and threatened to rigorously enforce these rules.
In February, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned that fog will continue to exist in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The EPA asked for additional action against automobiles and industries that create smoke in a letter to the deputy commissioner. The effects of smog in other cities, such as Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, and Faisalabad, were also emphasized.
Smog has been connected to major health hazards, including respiratory and cardiac issues, as well as irritation of the eyes and skin, according to doctors. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, are advised to wear masks outside, wash their lips, and stay indoors, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
According to the World Air Quality Index, which gauges the quantity of PM2.5, a hazardous particle, Islamabad’s air quality index (AQI) recently reached an alarming level of 169. This surge in pollution came after the Diwali festivities in nearby New Delhi, when, in spite of a government prohibition, the use of pyrotechnics worsened air pollution.
Additionally, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has imposed restrictions on activities that deteriorate air quality and declared a smog calamity. These include running industries without pollution controls, burning crop residue, and driving cars that emit smoke.
