Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, reiterated on Wednesday her call for climate diplomacy with India in order to address the growing problem of smog on both sides of the border.
Each year, when temperatures drop and the cold air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke, the New Delhi region battles pollution. Officials say that most of the pollution comes from the neighboring breadbasket states of Punjab and Haryana.
Lahore scored 708 points on the AQI, making it the world’s most polluted city as of Monday night. Today, as indicated by IQAir, Delhi held the high level with 196 places, with Lahore only six focuses behind it.
Maryam addressed a Diwali celebration in Lahore today, stating, When it comes to the problem of smog in Lahore, we need to be diplomatic with India. I’m considering writing an email to the Indian Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, stating that this is not only a political but also a humanitarian issue.
She emphasized, “And if we’re also taking steps towards this, there should be a matching response from the Indian side.”
She joked, “The winds don’t know there’s a border in the middle,” before emphasizing that this diplomacy will benefit the environment and people on both sides of the border.
She stated, “We won’t be able to tackle the issue of smog until both Punjabs come together.”
Today’s remarks by CM Maryam were in line with her call for “climate diplomacy” with India on October 10 to lessen the impact of smog in Punjab.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister of Punjab, urged Lahore residents to “declare war on smog” last week. She mentioned that India was responsible for 30% of the city’s smog.
In Punjab, at least 71 people have been arrested for burning trash and stubble, operating illegal brick kilns, and driving vehicles that emit smoke, according to a report from earlier this month. At least 16 farmers have been detained in the Indian state of Haryana for illegally burning paddy stubble.