Hasan Murtaza, General Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Central Punjab, has sharply criticized the Punjab government for its inadequate response to the ongoing smog crisis in Lahore and surrounding areas. Murtaza accused the provincial authorities of failing to tackle the growing environmental pollution, paralleling their inability to effectively manage political challenges.
In a statement, Murtaza pointed to the case of a three-year-old girl who had to approach the courts due to health problems caused by smog, questioning the government’s commitment to public health. He particularly criticized the Punjab Chief Minister’s recent visit to Geneva, questioning the priority given to addressing the smog crisis while the health of citizens remained at risk. Murtaza highlighted that temporary measures like closing schools and motorways were insufficient to address the underlying issue of air pollution.
The PPP leader also raised concerns about the delay in diplomatic action, specifically questioning the status of the letter sent to the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab, which proposed collaborative efforts to mitigate smog. Additionally, Murtaza expressed doubt over the feasibility of the government’s plans for artificial rain, dismissing them as unrealistic.
Murtaza called on the Punjab government to take substantial, long-term action to improve air quality and prioritize public health, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the smog crisis in a meaningful way.
