PHA speeds up tree washing to improve air quality

LAHORE: As part of its ongoing efforts to address air pollution and the growing threat of smog, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore has accelerated its tree washing programme across the City.

The initiative aims to reduce airborne pollutants and improve air quality through a systematic process of cleaning trees, plants, and flowers along key roads and green spaces.PHA’s Director-General, Muhammad Tahir Wattoo, highlighted that the authority’s teams are working from early morning until late evening to ensure the proper cleaning of trees on major thoroughfares such as Mall Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Gulberg, and Model Town, among others. The daily tree washing process is being conducted to mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution and smog in the City.

In a statement, Muhammad Tahir Wattoo emphasised that tree plantation has become a critical need to combat the increasing levels of air pollution. ‘Under the Lang Lahore project, we are expanding our plantation goals to further combat smog and improve the city’s air quality,” he added. The project, which focuses on tree planting around the Ravi River, is progressing at a fast pace, and additional areas are being included to enhance green cover in Lahore.

The Director-General also pointed out that the Punjab government’s measures to control smog include the temporary closure of all parks across the City. However, once the smog levels decrease and weather conditions improve, parks will be reopened to the general public following the government SOPs.PHA continues to take every possible step to make Lahore a cleaner, greener city and to address environmental concerns in the face of rising pollution levels.