Face masks have been made mandatory in smog-hit Punjab

LAHORE:

The Punjab government on Sunday made it mandatory for citizens to wear masks when going out in 10 smog-affected districts of the province.

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi took to X, formerly Twitter, to share the notification issued by the provincial health department a day before.

According to the notification, the order is to be implemented in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, Gijrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin from November 20 to November 26.

“Punjab Government announces a 1-week order to wear face mask for all citizens in smog-affected areas of Punjab. Prioritizing health is our collective responsibility. Please follow the guidelines for a safer community,” Naqvi wrote.

The notification said the measure has been taken to prevent and control air-borne diseases in the province.

Poor air quality due to heavy smog has become “a serious and imminent threat to public health in all groups,” he added.

Reading: 500 hospitalized due to smog

The air pollution rate in the provincial capital has reached alarming levels, making Lahore the world’s most polluted city.

Earlier this month, the city witnessed at least 500 people falling ill due to toxic smog and being admitted to emergency wards of various local hospitals within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has issued directions to implement strict measures to tackle the challenges posed by smog. The court dismissed the Punjab director general of environment from his post for failing to ensure the same.

A smart lockdown was earlier imposed in the province among other measures to mitigate air pollution.