Punjab govt to decide on “Wednesday holiday” today. An important meeting has been called by interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to finalize plans to reduce smog and air pollution in the province, including Lahore, according to a statement released on Monday.
The provincial capital’s Wednesday business hours for schools, markets, factories, and offices are among the proposed measures.
Provincial ministers, the chief secretary, the police chief, environmental experts, and other relevant officials will be present at the meeting.
After considering the smog situation, a final decision will be made with the support of all interested parties.
Following the meeting, the provincial ministers of information and the environment will hold a press conference to brief the media on the smog-control decisions made.
In order to control the worsening smog in the provincial capital of Lahore, it was revealed last week that the Punjab government was considering imposing restrictions resembling those imposed by the coronavirus.
The government is rumored to announce a total shutdown on Wednesdays, with all businesses closed, including markets, factories, and schools.
As Punjab govt to decide on “Wednesday holiday” today, according to the proposal, government departments will work half-time on Wednesday, according to the sources, who also stated that snap-checking was also suggested to be done on Saturday and Sunday during the weekend.
The city’s unusual traffic patterns are the primary cause of the smog, and factory emissions only account for 7% of Lahore’s overall pollution.
Additionally, it was suggested, per sources, to levy steep fines against factories that broke the law and to close them in the event that they continued to disregard the rules.
The first three days of the week, from Monday to Wednesday, are when smog levels are at their highest, according to the sources.
Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa responded to the proposal by saying that the government would announce a work-from-home policy for two months to help fight smog in the Lahore Division.
