Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari announced on Saturday that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will soon reach out to the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab to propose joint efforts in combating the smog crisis affecting both regions. During a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari highlighted the worsening air quality in Lahore and referenced a NASA report suggesting that the smog is exacerbated by pollution crossing the border from India. She stated, “India is not controlling the air pollution on its side of the border,” and confirmed that the letter from Chief Minister Nawaz will emphasize the need for collaborative action against smog.
Bokhari addressed the urgency of the smog problem in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, calling for a diplomatic approach to tackle this humanitarian issue. “We need to engage diplomatically with India, as this is a human problem,” she emphasized.
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Additionally, she dismissed the feasibility of conducting artificial rain without cloud cover, asserting that resources should not be wasted on such attempts.
Maryam Nawaz also reiterated her call for climate diplomacy during a recent Diwali event in Lahore. She stressed the importance of mutual cooperation, stating, “If we’re also taking steps towards this, then there should be a matching response from the Indian side.” She lightheartedly noted that “the winds don’t know there’s a border in the middle,” highlighting the interconnected nature of environmental issues.
The Chief Minister underscored that without collaboration between the two Punjabs, effectively addressing the smog crisis will remain a challenge. Her previous appeals for climate diplomacy emphasize the necessity of joint efforts to mitigate the impacts of air pollution that affect communities on both sides of the border.
