Punjab’s EPD told to upload air quality index readings in real-time
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2025-02-18 05:52:32
Lahore: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab Environment Secretary to ensure that measurements of the air quality index (AQI) taken using equipment maintained by the province’s Environment Protection Department (EPD) were uploaded in real-time on the department’s website.
The directive was issued after Environment secretary Saif Anjum, accompanied by health and metrological authorities, briefed the court on an emergency action plan prepared to deal with the prevailing smog in the province.
Earlier in the morning session, the court had expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the provincial government and asked the environment secretary to return in the evening with a plan to deal with the issue.
LHC Chief Justice Manzoor Ali Shah was hearing of a public interest petition filed by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Lahore president Waleed Iqbal.
In the evening, Saif Anjum returned and submitted the emergency action plan as well as the record of latest AQI ratings taken in the provincial capital.
Anjum told the court that the department had consulted environmental experts before finalising the plan.
He said the emergency plan would come into force if the AQI was found to be above international standard at any time. “The plan carries an imposition of medical emergency with suspension of all outdoor activities and evacuation of people to safe places as far as practicable if the AQI crosses the figure of 500. All educational institutions and parks will be closed down in addition to a general advice to wear masks when outdoor if index records 401 to 500,” the secretary told the court.
He said the latest AQI reading taken by the EPD in Lahore was 107 that fell in the satisfactory range. “The situation is no of a severe nature and does not require imposition of a health emergency. [Tuesday’s] rain was also instrumental in decreasing air pollution and smog,” he said.
On an expert opinion given by pulmonologist Prof Kamran Cheema, the LHC chief justice reprimanded the authorities concerned for not having issued a timely advice for school-going children, senior citizens and pregnant women against to stay indoors during the smog.
Published in Daily Times, November 15th 2017.
