People experienced breathing problems, coughing and running noses as Lahore once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The air quality index (AQI) in the city was recorded at 271.

District administration, police clampdown on people causing smog:

Meanwhile, the district administration has sealed 87 industrial units besides registering three FIRs and imposing fines amounting to 0.2 million as it intensifies its crackdown on the people causing smog in the city and its outskirts.

DC Lahore Umar Sher Chattha said on Monday that the administration’s anti-smog squad had detected the presence of 255 industrial units which were operational without the control system necessary to control the release of pollutants into the air. 

Chattha further said that anti-smog squads had been formed in each and every tehsil of the Lahore district.

At the same time, Punjab police, on the orders of Provincial Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan, has also swung into action as it lodged 225 cases and arrested 153 people in its crackdown in the last few days.

Quoting the IGP, Punjab police spokesman in his statement released to the media, has said that those spreading pollution either through burning of the crops’ stubble or through other means deserve no mercy.

He has added that the IGP has ordered the police officials in all districts of Punjab to work with the district administration and other concerned departments to control the spread of smog. “Punjab police chief has ordered the officials to particularly focus on Lahore and Sheikhupura regions,” the spokesman explained.

Giving more details, he has said that 2, 217 cases have been registered and 2, 294 people have been taken into custody only this year alone. “In all, 46 cases have been registered and 38 people have been held in Multan region this year for burning the crops’ stubble and tyres; 80 cases have been registered in Gujranwala region and 59 people have been arrested in connection with spreading pollution; 35 cases have been lodged and 28 people have been arrested in Faisalabad region; 13 cases have been registered and two people have been taken into custody in Sahiwal region for committing the same offences; nine cases have been registered and eight people have been arrested in Sargodha region,” the Punjab police spokesman has said, adding that similarly 15 cases have been lodged and 11 people have been held in Sheikhupura region; nine cases have been registered in Dera Ghazi Khan region; 10 cases have been registered and one person has been held in Bahawalpur region for spreading smog.

He has appealed to the people to keep an eye on their surroundings and report to the police on number: 15.

Reporters Fariha Batool, Shahzad Khan Abdali and Ali Sahi