LAHORE, Nov 23 (NNI): The Punjab government has shut down schools and
colleges in 10 districts of the province in connection with the smog
issue.
Announcing the decision on Thursday, Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said
all educational institutions including the schools and colleges will
remain closed on Friday and Saturday. All the markets will remain closed
on Sunday while restaurants will open at 3:00 pm, he added.
Naqvi announced this at a press conference in Lahore following an
important meeting on the issue. The decision would apply to Lahore,
Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha and Sahiwal divisions.
He also announced that air-purifying towers would be installed in
Lahore, while 10,000 students would be given electric motorbikes on
subsidy.
Artificial rain will be conducted if the clouds are closer to Lahore on
November 29, the CM said, adding he was not in favour of closing
markets, so they will open at 3pm on Friday and Saturday.
All kinds of markets will remain closed on Sunday, while restaurants
will also open at 3pm.
The government has also decided to double the spray of water on roads.
On Sunday, The Mall road will be open to only cyclists from morning to
5pm.
Naqvi advised everyone to wear a mask when getting out of their houses.
He claimed that the wind from India is impacting Punjab.
Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi chairmed an important meeting of the Cabinet
Committee for Anti-Smog.
According to government sources, proposals to impose soft lockdown to
combat smog in Punjab were discussed in the meeting.
The sources said that all schools, colleges, universities are proposed
to be closed on this Friday.
It is proposed to close down markets, gyms, cinemas, theaters and
factories even on Saturday, the sources said.
The proposal to close restaurants on Saturdays except takeaway and home
delivery was also taken up, sources said and added the meeting also
discussed the proposal to limit public and private vehicles in the city
because the main reason for the increase in smog is the abnormal traffic
in Lahore.
Half of the employees will work in the government offices, the sources
said. It was also proposed to cordon off the city after the soft
lockdown on Friday and Saturday.
The proposal of closure and heavy fines to the factories working against
the law was also considered, the sources said. There was also a proposal
to implement Section 144 in Lahore.
The Chief Minister later visited Mayo Hospital and King Edward Medical
University in order inspect the ongoing development work.
Provincial Minister Dr Javed Akram, Secretary Health Ali Jan, Secretary
C&W Sohail Ashraf, other officers were also present on the occasion. The
Chief Minister inspected all the blocks and floors of the emergency
under construction.
The Chief Minister also visited King Edward University and conducted
detailed inspection of classrooms, halls, theaters, corridors and the CT
scan area.
The Chief Minister stopped and inquired about the health facilities from
the citizens and relatives of the patients.
The Chief Minister also inspected the material used in the construction
works. NNI
