Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has cautioned that fireworks during Diwali celebrations across the Indian border could release fine particles into the atmosphere and worsen regional air pollution. She warned that this could lead to increased smog in Lahore and other parts of Punjab in the coming days.
In a statement shared on X, she said a thick layer of fog and polluted air originating from the Bay of Bengal was already spreading across the region. She added that wind direction, speed and atmospheric stability would play an important role in determining Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI).
Maryam Aurangzeb said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had ordered authorities to speed up monitoring and anti-smog measures. Smog guns and water sprinkling operations have also been stepped up in areas expected to record high AQI levels along the eastern corridor towards India.
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She urged residents to play their part in reducing pollution by avoiding the burning of crop residue, particularly rice stubble. She also reminded the public to follow the ban on open burning of garbage, plastic and other waste.
The minister further advised people to keep smoke-emitting vehicles off the roads in the coming days and avoid unnecessary travel to help limit pollution.
Meanwhile, the department reported 459 crop-burning incidents in Pakistan between October 1 and November 4, marking a 28 percent decrease compared to 637 cases recorded during the same period last year.
It also confirmed that 57 first information reports (FIRs) were registered over crop-burning incidents between October 1 and November 2.
According to the department, enforcement efforts have been strengthened, while Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teams are monitoring smog conditions around the clock, including during nighttime hours.