Punjab has recorded more than 2,970 FIRs between October 1 and December 18, along with the imposition of a heavy fine on industrial discharges, stubble burning, and traffic violations to handle the smog problem said Punjab relief commissioner Babar Hayat Tarar.
Tarar, who is the Senior Member Board of Revenue, informed the media about the smog problem that has been comforted as a consequence of operative government measures.
Flight, train procedures disturbed as smog covers Punjab
In the last seven days, the central and southern parts of Punjab remained obscured by smog, which caused disruption of flight and train operations in various cities of the province.
Read more: Smog in Lahore: Find Out What’s Causing It & How To Protect Your Health
The media released that many flights from the Lahore and Sialkot airports faced delays as a result of the critical smog situation. Four flights booked for Lahore were diverted to Islamabad.
The news further revealed that the schedule of trains from Karachi and Quetta was also influenced.
In the meantime, motorways were occluded for traffic at different spots after reports of numerous traffic accidents.
Due to the smog conditions, M2 from Bhera, M4 from Shershah to Shamkot, and M5 from the Jalalpur interchange to Shershah and from Rohri to Guddu were also blocked.
Punjab revises winter holiday schedule
The Punjab government has notified a revised winter break schedule, with different dates for the several districts of the province that are not beholding mainly high levels of smog.
In accordance with the notification from the School Education Department, all public and private educational institutes in Kasur, Narowal, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Pakpattan, Sheikhupura, Vehari, Okara, Khanewal, Lahore, Hafizabad, Khushab, Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Nankana Sahib, and Jhang will observe winter break from December 23 to January 6, due to higher level of smog in these districts than others.
“All the concerned authorities shall ensure 100% vaccination of all teaching and non-teaching staff and students by the opening of institutions in the wake of an increasing number of the Omicron variant of COVID-19,” a notification issued by the Higher Education Department.
“Non-vaccinated teaching, non-teaching staff, and students shall not be allowed to enter their concerned institutions,” it warned.
