Farmers set fire to crop residues in many areas along the Lahore-Islamabad motorway late last night prompting the authorities to swing into action swiftly to nullify its impact on the environment, reported 24NewsHD TV channel this morning.
Fires along the Lahore-Islamabad motorway sent thick clouds of smoke into the air, blocking the view of oncoming drivers and increasing the likelihood of a mishap.
The crop residues were set ablaze along the motorway around Sharaqpur, Nankana Sahib, Jaranwala.
Areas around the Lahore-Sialkot motorway such as Kamunki were also significantly impacted.
Reports indicate that a majority of the materials which were burned was wheat crop residues.
There is a widespread fear of increasing air pollution due to the large number of crop residues burning, especially near the motorway and populated areas.
Field operations by teams of the Environment Department are being carried out in order to extinguish the fires caused by the burning crop residues.
The blazes started being doused in different areas by the fire brigade with incremental progress being made over time.
DG Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh and all the field officers along with the administration took measures to put out the flames.
Authorities have instituted a ban on burning crop stubble in the future in an attempt to end the practice which is becoming more and more common.
Reporter Komal Aslam