Pakistan

Punjab govt plans artificial rain in Lahore to curb smog

Published

10 months ago

Farwa

Smog persists in Lahore, other major urban entres.
Punjab govt mulls options to curb air pollution.
LHC orders to close all schools and colleges on Nov 18.

LAHORE: Amid the worsening smog situation in Lahore, the Punjab government has started planning to carry out artificial rain in the provincial capital later this month, reported The News on Friday.

This will be the first of its kind experiment in the country.

In this regard, a meeting was held with Provincial Environment Minister Bilal Afzal and Education Minister Mansoor Qadir in the chair which discussed the evaluation of short, medium and long-term measures to control smog in the city.

Secretary Environment Rashid Kamalur Rehman, representatives of the Environment Protection Department, SPARCO and various universities participated in the meeting.

Consultation on artificial rainfall to eliminate smog was also held and it was decided that preparations should be made regarding artificial rain on November 28 or 29, when there is possibility of a cloudy weather.

The provincial minister said that a team and working group should be formed to provide artificial rain which will consult on providing aircraft to carry out artificial rain.

Bilal Afzal said that clouds were necessary and the working group would have to consider all aspects of the artificial rain. The final proposals of the working group will be sent to the chief minister for approval, he said.

Punjab districts including Lahore Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana, Bahawalnagar and Sheikhupura are experiencing the worst air pollution.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has ordered the authorities to close all schools and colleges on Nov 18 in smog-hit districts. The court also directed the government to implement a work-from-home policy for two days a week.

Why is pollution in South Asia worse than in other places?

Countries in South Asia have seen a marked increase in industrialisation, economic development, and population growth over the past two decades, leading to increased demand for energy and fossil fuels.

While sources like industries and vehicles affect most countries, certain major contributors are unique to South Asia, including solid fuel combustion for cooking and heating, human cremation, and burning of agricultural waste.

About 38% of the pollution in New Delhi this year, for example, has been caused by stubble burning — a practice where stubble left after harvesting rice is burnt to clear fields — in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

An increase in the number of vehicles on roads as the region has developed has also exacerbated the pollution problem. In India and Pakistan, for example, the number of vehicles has increased four-fold since the early 2000s.

New Delhi, ranked the world’s most polluted capital for four years in a row by Swiss Group IQAir, has 472 vehicles per thousand population, according to government data, with almost eight million vehicles plying on its roads as of 2022.

Business

Report: Solar is expected to set new records this year.

Published

13 hours ago

Farwa

In 2023, there was an expected 87% increase in growth. This year’s increase is 29% over the previous one, according to the research.

The cheapest source of electricity globally is solar power, and as such, it is expanding quicker than many anticipated, according to Euan Graham, an Ember electricity data analyst.

Ember estimates demonstrate the rapid growth of solar energy: in 2024 alone, new solar capacity will surpass the 540 GW of additional coal power added globally since 2010.

Expected to add 334 GW, or 56 percent of the global total in 2024, China continues to lead the globe in this industry.

According to the survey, it is followed by the US, India, Germany, and Brazil. These five nations will account for 75% of the new solar capacity in 2024.

According to the research, maintaining the sector’s growth required grid capacity and battery storage.

“Providing enough grid capacity and developing battery storage is critical for handling electricity distribution and supporting solar outside of peak sunlight hours as solar becomes more inexpensive and accessible,” the statement stated.

“Solar power might continue to surpass forecasts for the remainder of the decade if these issues are resolved and development is sustained.”

Latest News

Attorneys and government discussing the Constitutional Court: SCBA

Published

13 hours ago

Farwa

We will hold conversations with government over their suggestions, the President of SCBA stated. The attorneys are to submit their recommendations to the Supreme Court Bar for discussion.

He said that any constitutional choice made without legal counsel would be considered “mere consultation.”

“We are having discussions with the government about the constitutional court, which is something that the bar councils all over Pakistan used to demand,” Shahzad Shaukat stated.

He claimed that the lawyers were pleased with the law minister’s pledge that he had patiently listened to our position.

As stated by the president of the SCBA, “We will jointly give better constitutional proposals over the issue.” The lawyers have organized a committee.

Bar councils are stakeholders and would be given due consideration, according to previous remarks made by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

Representatives from bar councils would also be present at the news conference, according to Azam Nazeer Tarar.

After the legal community’s objection to the proposed constitutional amendment, the decision was made to engage with the bar associations.

A constitutional law intended to establish judicial changes, including the creation of a constitutional court, is about to be presented by the coalition government in power.

Latest News

Punjab imposes Section 144

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

According to specifics, section 144’s implementation aims to guarantee a safe testing environment and discourage cheating.

The notice states that unconnected people’s mobility would be prohibited within 100 yards of the exam centers, and that only candidates and supervisory staff will be permitted within the exam centers.

Furthermore, it is forbidden for protests and demonstrations to take place close to the exam centers in the following cities: D.G. Khan, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujarat, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalpur.

These steps are being done to protect applicants from outside help and to make sure everything is secure throughout the MDCAT exam.