In the heart of Pakistan’s fertile province, the heavy blanket of smog creeps in every winter, choking cities and countryside alike. This year, the threat is even more urgent in Lahore. The Punjab government has issued a public advisory amid growing smog across the province, urging citizens to support the “Clean and Green Punjab” vision. Acting on the directions of Maryam Nawaz, the administration has started implementing a coordinated plan to control air pollution.
The geography of the smog: Punjab smog origin
Across the broad plains of Punjab (Pakistan), smog arises from many sources: crop‑residue burning, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and migrating air pollutants from across the border. In Lahore, the air quality index (AQI) recently reached hazardous levels, underscoring how intense the situation has become.
The government now recognises the problem as not just seasonal but a year‑round epidemic.
The Lahore smog impact on daily life
In Lahore, smog isn’t just a haze — it’s a hazard. With visibility diminished and the air heavy with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), people suffer respiratory distress, eye irritation, and other health woes.
The provincial advisory asks citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during peak traffic hours, keep vehicles properly maintained, and switch off engines while waiting at long signals to reduce air pollution. It also suggests motorcyclists wear protective masks to stay safe from harmful air particles.
What the government is doing: Punjab smog response
The administration is mobilising multiple departments under the anti‑smog campaign. Efforts include:
Inspecting and suspending heavily polluting vehicles.
Sealing or demolishing non‑compliant brick kilns and industrial units.
Launching a “Clean and Green Punjab” vision which includes reducing fuel wastage, vehicle emissions, and improving greenery across the province.
Issuing a public advisory for mask use, avoiding outdoor exposure especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments.
How You Can Help: Citizen Guidelines for Lahore Smog
As a resident of Lahore or Punjab you can support the fight against smog by:
Avoiding unnecessary travel during peak hours.
Keeping your vehicle well maintained and idling off when stopped.
Using a protective mask (N95 or equivalent) when outdoors in heavy smog.
Supporting school/office hour adjustments so traffic is reduced.
Planting trees or supporting greenery initiatives to help absorb pollutants.
Also Read: Punjab CNIC undergoes changes
A glimpse head
The challenge remains significant. The AQI values in Lahore have at times soared above 300 — well into the “hazardous” range.
The shift from viewing smog as a seasonal nuisance to treating it as a full‑scale environmental crisis signals that longer‑term changes are required in policy, infrastructure and public behaviour.
The work ahead is hard, but with coordinated effort and public participation, the vision of a cleaner, greener Punjab can become real.
