Pakistan bans entry to parks, zoos due to worsening air pollution

(CLO) Pakistan's Punjab province has banned entry to many public spaces from November 8, including parks and zoos, as authorities seek to protect people from severe air pollution in some areas of the eastern province.

This week, the capital of Punjab province, Lahore, was shrouded in a thick layer of smog and was consistently ranked the world's most polluted city by Swiss group IQAir, leading to school closures and work-from-home orders.

An order issued on November 8 by the Punjab provincial government "completely banned public entry into all parks... zoos, playgrounds, historical sites, monuments, museums and amusement parks" until November 17 in areas including Lahore.

Vegetable fields are covered in smog on the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan, November 7. Photo: Reuters

Every winter, many parts of South Asia suffer severe pollution as cold, heavy air traps dust, emissions and smoke from stubble burning, an illegal practice of burning crop waste to quickly clear fields.

Last week, Punjab province blamed toxic air from neighboring India, where air quality has also hit hazardous levels, for this year's exceptionally high pollution.

IQAir ranked India's capital New Delhi as the world's second most polluted city on November 8, with government data showing that stubble burning in the neighboring agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana was a major cause.

To curb this, the Indian government doubled the fines for violators on November 6.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/pakistan-cam-vao-cong-vien-so-thu-vi-o-nhiem-khong-khi-ngay-cang-nang-post320568.html