Lahore: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the Punjab government has introduced a new system based on artificial intelligence (AI) to combat smog this year.
Talking to senior journalists in Lahore, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that through this system, it has become possible to predict air pollution, smog intensity and the effects of polluted air coming from India across the province. This system is being described as the first comprehensive technological breakthrough for accurate analysis of air quality in the province and timely measures.
She said that in the past, there was no regular system for determining the level of smog or its advance monitoring in Punjab, especially Lahore, but now the air quality for the next four months can be estimated through AI technology. According to her, this system helps the government to plan in advance, keep the health sector alert and control the sources of pollution in a timely manner.
The senior provincial minister said that earlier, action was started after the spread of smog, now we start working on its control from March itself. To reduce smog-causing particles in the province, clear targets have been set in the industry, transport and construction sectors, the implementation of which is being ensured through a modern monitoring system.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fitness tests of three lakh vehicles have been completed this year, while 1,100 electric buses have come on the roads and 1,000 more will be added soon to promote green transport. The EPA has installed 41 modern air quality monitoring stations, the number of which will be increased to 100 in the future.
She said that a smog war room has been set up in the province, which is linked to the dashboard of the Punjab Information Technology Board. From here, action is taken within 48 hours through drones, smart surveillance and i-compliance regime. FIRs have been registered against violating factories, heavy fines have been imposed and sealing and demolition have also been carried out at several places.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the industry has been connected to the online EPA control system through which the pollution of any factory can be directly monitored. Fuel quality is being checked at petrol pumps, while phased action is also underway against the plastic industry.
The senior provincial minister said that polluted air coming from India increases the intensity of smog, but we have taken all possible precautions at our level. According to him, a ban has been imposed on burning crop residues, while in areas where smog is high, mobile units of hospitals are alerted in advance.
He said that the Punjab government has recently formed an Environment Protection Force, which is continuously monitoring air pollution under the door and squad system. In addition, an anti-plastic campaign is also underway in which citizens are being encouraged to participate.
According to Marriyum Aurangzeb, Punjab now has a complete system to deal with smog, which includes data, technology, and coordination between departments. We have accomplished in a year and a half what was not accomplished for decades in the past.
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