Section 144 has been imposed in 3 districts including Lahore due to air pollution

The Punjab province caretaker government has declared an ‘environmental and health emergency’ in three districts, including Lahore, because of air pollution. This situation will continue for 5 days from 29/11/2023 to 03/12/2023 to reduce pollution. A holiday has been declared in those three districts for 5 days.

Markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinema halls, gyms, schools, and government and private offices in the three districts will be closed for 5 days, as announced by the provincial government. Movement of government and private vehicles will also be limited in these three districts.

The government notification says that drug shops, petrol pumps, bakeries, grocery stores, dairy shops, and vegetable and meat shops will stay open. The caretaker chief minister of the province, Cousin Naqvi, said, “Section 144 has been issued in these three districts. The government will not close the factories. Pollution needs to be stopped in Lahore. The city’s atmosphere is in dire need of relaxation or a break.”

The Switzerland-based organization regularly highlights the air pollution situation of the world’s cities. The live AQI index informs people about how clean or polluted the air is in a specific city. been at the top of the world for air pollution for almost two weeks. The city is at the top on Monday. The city has a score of 455.

According to the IQAir criteria, a score of 51 to 100 is considered ‘moderate’ or ‘acceptable’ air quality. A score of 101 to 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’.

People in sensitive groups are most at risk when air pollution is high. Among them are the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people suffering from complex diseases. Experts advise that special care should be taken about them.

A score of 151 to 200 is ‘unhealthy’ air. A score of 201 to 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’ air. A score of 301 and above is considered ‘disastrous’ or ‘risky’.