LAHORE: On the instruction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art Air Quality Forecast System has been developed in Punjab.
This advanced system is capable of predicting weather conditions and air pollution across the province.
According to reports, this system will help reduce pollution in major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, and others. Weekly reports regarding air pollution will also be issued through this system.
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb stated that the Air Forecasting System combines real-time monitoring with advanced scientific models.
This system works in accordance with international models like “WINDY” and “EURO,” as well as the global air quality index and local requirements, she said.
She further noted that this system will also include data from the modern monitoring stations installed this year.
Currently, 41 advanced air quality monitoring stations have been set up in Punjab, with plans to increase this number to one hundred (100) in the coming days.
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This modern system will also provide citizens with health-related protective and precautionary measures. It is an automated system that measures air pollution levels and compiles records of changes in weather conditions, the minister said.
“Thanks to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, this system will aid in evidence-based policy-making,”, Maryam Aurangzeb said.
She also praised Secretary of Environment Salwat Said, DG Environment Imran Ahmed Sheikh, and the EPA team for their work on the Air Forecasting Model.
This system is also part of the government’s plan to eliminate smog in Punjab, which includes crackdowns on the burning of crop residues.
Maryam Aurangzeb stated that continuous monitoring of air pollution levels, weather conditions, and air quality in urban areas will be conducted using modern equipment.
She added that measures are ongoing to control vehicle and industrial emissions, and every citizen must play their part in combating environmental pollution.
The senior provincial minister urged citizens to avoid unnecessary outings during the smog season and advised that elderly individuals, children, and those with respiratory conditions should take special precautions.
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