Pakistan Limits Outdoor Activities, Market Hours To Curb Air Pollution-Related Illness (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0175456767
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/24/11/12/1538253/pakistan-limits-outdoor-activities-market-hours-to-curb-air-pollution-related-illness
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-limits-outdoor-activities-market-hours-curb-air-pollution-related-2024-11-11/
> The province has closed educational institutions and public spaces like parks and zoos until Nov. 17 in places including Lahore, the world's most polluted city in terms of air quality, according to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings.
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> The districts of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala have seen an unprecedented rise in patients with respiratory diseases, eye and throat irritation, and pink eye disease, the Punjab government said in an order issued late on Sunday. The new restrictions will also remain in force until Nov. 17. "The spread of conjunctivitis/ pink eye disease due to bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust or chemical exposure is posing a serious and imminent threat to public health," the Punjab government said.
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> While outdoor activities including sports events, exhibitions and festivals, and dining at restaurants have been prohibited, "unavoidable religious rites" are exempt from this direction, the order said. Outlets like pharmacies, oil depots, dairy shops and fruit and vegetable shops have similarly been exempted from the directions to close by 8 p.m. local time. Lahore's air quality remained hazardous on Monday, with an index score of more than 600, according to IQAir, but this was significantly lower than the 1,900 that it touched in places earlier this month. A score of 0-50 is considered good.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-limits-outdoor-activities-market-hours-curb-air-pollution-related-2024-11-11/
Gotta respect... (Score:4, Funny)
...this move for equality.
Now the women have the same freedom as the men :D.
A temporary measure (Score:3)
A better idea might be to take pollution seriously. Pollution caused by open air fires, burning of waste, toxic chemicals, vehicle emissions, smoking and whatever else is causing such poor air quality and contributing to climate change in general.
Burning Hay (Score:1)
These guys just burn all the hay from their wheat farms... millions of tons of it - it makes air unbreathable in half of the subcontinent.
Its not the pollution (Score:2)
Its those lazy people getting sick from it.
Maybe if the eco-warriors... (Score:2)
... would focus on the major polluters (China, India), we might actually have a real impact on pollution levels.
Reason for smog ... (Score:2)
The summary doesn't mention why there is smog.
Basically it happens every year in this season. Farmers burn the stubble left over in the fields.
And the results is what you see [1]in these satellite pictures [bbc.com] comparing September to November.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm20k76d5xno
Re: (Score:2)
It's really just lunacy that they continue this practice when they can see the results. I understand they're a poor country and modern farming methods cost more money but so will dealing with the surging cancer rate (not to mention many other health issues) that will come in a couple decades.
You would think they would just limit emissions (Score:1)
You know, build solar rooftop power and start creating an EV infrastructure. It isnt more expensive than importing shit-tons of fuel.
Re: (Score:2)
A lot of the pollution is from antiquated industry that they don't have the capital to upgrade, but can't afford to go without. For example, the manufacturing of bricks is responsible for putting out a lot of air pollution and is done at numerous smaller sites that operate at incredibly low margins or relies on what is effectively slave labor.
It's not just a simple matter of switching to solar. They need material to build new housing to support a population that has tripled in the last three decades.
Re: (Score:2)
A lot of the pollution is from antiquated industry that they don't have the capital to upgrade
Specifically their two biggest exports -- fraud and AK-47s.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, they have plenty of sun and are close to China.
They also have nuclear weapons - why are they not building atomic energy stations?
"Pink eye" is viral/bacterial. Allergic conjunctivitis is a separate diagnosis - they seem to be blaming a hygiene problem on pollution. I used to get allergic conjunctivitis when living on a county highway and not since I moved to a forest, so I sympathize.
People who've had kids in daycare know how wildly the contagious pinkeye can spread. Erythromicin ointment should r
Re: (Score:2)
"They also have nuclear weapons - why are they not building atomic energy stations?"
Because their Jihadist mindset just KNOWS those naughty Indians are scheming to take over their country...because....because....well, I'm sure they can tell you. Nobody sane thinks the Indians give a flying rats ass about Pakistan.
Re: (Score:2)
Pakistan is a country which has several massive problems, the least of which is air pollution.