Wed Nov 06 07:00:03 UTC 2024: ## Punjab Sets Up “Smog War Room” to Combat Severe Pollution in Lahore
**Lahore, Pakistan** – Facing record-breaking levels of air pollution, the Punjab province of Pakistan has established a dedicated “smog war room” to tackle the crisis. This move comes as Lahore, the provincial capital, topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities according to the live air quality rankings by Swiss group IQAir.
The city registered a pollution index score of 1165, far surpassing the score of 299 recorded in New Delhi, India.
The newly formed war room will bring together staff from eight departments, including environment, traffic management, and agriculture, to work collaboratively towards curbing pollution. The committee will meet twice daily to analyze weather and air quality data, issue advisories, and monitor the performance of field officers tasked with tackling various pollution sources, including farm waste burning and traffic congestion.
While the pollution levels in Lahore have decreased from last week’s record high of 1900, the city still faces a severe air quality crisis. The situation prompted the closure of primary schools and work-from-home orders last week.
Punjab’s Senior Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, attributed the toxic air to pollution drifting across the border from India. She has requested Pakistan’s foreign ministry to raise the issue with their Indian counterparts.
The issue of winter smog is a common problem across South Asia, as cold air traps emissions, dust, and smoke from agricultural burning. A study last year revealed that pollution could cut more than five years from people’s life expectancy in the region.
Meanwhile, New Delhi, the world’s most polluted capital for four consecutive years, is exploring the use of artificial rain as a potential solution to combat pollution.
First Piper 