Govt takes steps to control smog: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir has informed that the caretaker government has initiated long-term measures to control smog in the province and work on setting up the first-ever environmental laboratory in provincial capital will soon be commenced.

Briefing the media in this regard on Thursday, the minister told that the laboratory would determine the nature of various constituents of atmospheric pollution for adopting compatible strategy to curb their generation. The minister said that the number of patients suffering from respiratory and throat diseases and other allergies was increasing these days due to smog. Necessary medicines have been provided in ample quantity in hospitals to treat such patients, he added. Dr Jamal said that prospects for artificial rain at certain places were also being evaluated to reduce smog. A high-powered committee, headed by the Punjab Chief Secretary has been constituted for taking practical measures in this regard. Experts from Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan and Punjab University, Lahore have been contacted for this purpose, he added. The minister said that proposal for installation of ionization filters at 12 places in provincial capital was also being reviewed. These filters will sprinkle moisture in the air to reduce pollution. He told that the Punjab government has decided to benefit from the Chinese expertise to control smog in the province. He said that quality checking of fuel at filling stations has been accelerated. The police and the transport dept have been directed to crack down on pumps selling sub-standard petrol, which was a major cause of smog.