Over 200 take part in smog awareness family ride

LAHORE: In continuance of anti-smog activities, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) with the collaboration of commissioner's office initiated a ‘Smog Awareness Family Ride Lahore’ here on Sunday.

The event was held to encourage the citizens to work towards pursuing a greener and smog-free city by supporting travelling on bicycles, said Wasa MD Ghafran Ahmed while talking to the media.

He said as part of the campaign a family-based event was organised and special arrangements were made for the families, children, the old citizens and the differently-abled persons. Senior government officials also participated with immense enthusiasm to show their support.

On this occasion, Commissioner Lahore Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that Lahore has been listed among the most polluted cities with the highest smog incidence in recent years. “It is absolutely critical to forcefully deal with this issue now, before the adverse impact on the environment and peoples' health worsens. ‘Smog Awareness Family Ride Lahore’ initiative is one of the key steps in promoting a go-green attitude among the citizens. It will also help in building awareness about cleaner, greener, and sustainable Lahore.

Smog-free awareness activity was held with collaboration of Wasa,” he said, adding to encourage citizen participation, ‘we facilitated the participants with bicycles.’

The commissioner said it was hugely encouraging to see a large number of citizens, belonging to different aged groups joining the event and supporting the cause. The Family Cycling event track started from E-library, Gaddafi Stadium, rounding whole track of Gaddafi and Nishtar Park and concluded back at E-library.

Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa led the Family Event Cycling Ride and completed the track. Cycling groups, families, children, a large number of citizens and media houses also participated in the event. He said the purpose of the cycling event was to raise awareness about environmental pollution in the city. “Lahore is our home, and citizens should come forward to promote a healthy environment,” the commissioner stated.

He said that cycle stands were being made on major roads of the city and cycle companies were being asked to come forward and provide cycles on rent at different places of the major roads. Divisional administration has instructed to PFA to get offers of discounts for the costumers coming to restaurants on cycles to promote cycle culture to combat smog and vehicular emission in the city while cycling events will be included in the city's annual calendar, creating a continuous series of cycling events.

Wasa MD said that Lahore High Court has clear directions for promoting healthy activities in the city. He said instructions have already been issued daily water sprinkling on city roads. He said over 200 cyclists participated in ‘Smog Awareness Family Ride Lahore’ while scores of spectators joined in to support the cause.