South Asia Times

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram Tiktok Linkedin

Punjab Government Takes Action Against Smog Conditions with Park Shutdowns

Punjab government shuts down parks and museums for 10 days to combat smog conditions as air quality worsens across major cities. [ARY News]

LAHORE: The Punjab government has taken a major step to combat the hazardous smog conditions in the province. It has shut down amusement parks and museums for 10 days, from November 8 to 17, ARY News reported.

As per details, the districts affected by this ban include Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujarat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Chiniot, Jhang, and Toba Tek Singh.

Additionally, Lodhran, Vehari, and Khanewal districts are also under the smog-related restrictions.

Earlier today, reports revealed that air pollution in Pakistan reached alarming levels, with seven cities topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

Multan takes the unfortunate lead with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 2,135, followed closely by Lahore at 676.

Meteorologists expect the situation to deteriorate further next week, predicting worsening smog conditions due to low wind speeds of 11km/h around Lahore and 7km/h near Multan.

  1. Multan: AQI score of 2,135
  2. Lahore: AQI score of 676
  3. Peshawar: hazardous air quality
  4. Islamabad: hazardous air quality
  5. Haripur: hazardous air quality
  6. Rawalpindi: hazardous air quality
  7. Karachi: hazardous air quality

Also See: When Air Turns Toxic: Lahore, Delhi, and the Smog Diplomacy

Punjab Enforces SOPs

Yesterday, the Punjab government made a decision to put into action revised SOPs aimed at controlling emissions from outdoor cooking stations and barbecue grills, as the average Air Quality Index in Lahore has exceeded hazardous levels.

According to details, notice issued by Punjab Environmental Protection (EPA) Director General Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, these SOPs will take effect in the Lahore district from November 20, 2024, until January 31, 2025.

The Health Advisory System for Critical Air Pollution Events (HAS-CAPES) was established on December 13, 2022. Subsequently, it held its first meeting of the Provincial CAPEs Committee (PCC) on October 21, 2024. During this meeting, members confirmed that a Critical Air Pollution Event has occurred in Lahore. This confirmation comes in light of the current elevated levels of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

This news is sourced from ARY News and is intended for informational purposes only.

Picture of News Desk

News Desk

Your trusted source for insightful journalism. Stay informed with our compelling coverage of global affairs, business, technology, and more.

News Desk

Your trusted source for insightful journalism. Stay informed with our compelling coverage of global affairs, business, technology, and more.

Recent

A critical analysis of Drop Site News’ report alleging a UK–Pakistan “swap deal,” exposing its reliance on anonymous sources, partisan framing, and legally impossible claims.

Anonymous Sources, Big Claims, Thin Ground

SAT Editorial Desk December 6, 2025

A recent Drop Site News report claims a covert UK–Pakistan exchange of convicted sex offenders for political dissidents. But a closer look shows the story rests on hearsay, anonymous insiders, and a narrative shaped more by partisan loyalties than evidence. From misrepresenting legally declared propagandists as persecuted critics to ignoring the legal impossibility of such a swap, this report illustrates how modern journalism can slip into activism. When sensational claims outrun facts and legality, credibility collapses, and so does the line between holding power accountable and manufacturing a story.

Read More »
A sharp critique of Zabihullah Mujahid’s recent evasive remarks on the TTP, exposing Taliban hypocrisy and Afghan complicity in cross-border militancy.

Zabihullah Mujahid’s Bizarre Statement on TTP: A Lesson in Hypocrisy and Evasion

Ibrahim Khalil December 6, 2025

Zabihullah Mujahid’s recent statement dismissing the TTP as Pakistan’s “internal issue” and claiming Pashto lacks the word “terrorist” is a glaring act of evasion. By downplaying a UN-listed militant group hosted on Afghan soil, the Taliban spokesperson attempts to deflect responsibility, despite overwhelming evidence of TTP sanctuaries, leadership, and operations in Afghanistan. His remarks reveal not linguistic nuance, but calculated hypocrisy and political convenience.

Read More »
Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

SAT Commentary December 3, 2025

Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s recent address sought to reframe Afghanistan’s strained ties with Pakistan through a narrative of victimhood and denial. From dismissing cross-border militancy to overstating economic resilience, his claims contradict on-ground realities and historical patterns. A closer examination reveals strategic deflection rather than accountability, with serious implications for regional peace and security.

Read More »
We Want Deliverance

We Want Deliverance

SAT Editorial Desk December 3, 2025

Political mobilization in South Asia is not rooted in policy or institutions but in a profound yearning for deliverance. From Modi’s civilizational aura in India to Imran Khan’s revolutionary moral narrative in Pakistan, voters seek not managers of the state but messianic figures who promise total transformation. This “Messiah Complex” fuels a cycle of charismatic rise, institutional erosion, and eventual democratic breakdown, a pattern embedded in the region’s political psychology and historical imagination.

Read More »