{"id":93237,"date":"2024-11-21T15:38:09","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T15:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=93237"},"modified":"2024-11-21T15:38:09","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T15:38:09","slug":"restrictions-relaxed-in-punjab-as-air-quality-smog-crisis-improves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2024\/93237\/","title":{"rendered":"Restrictions relaxed in Punjab as air quality, smog crisis improves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Pakistan(National Times)- The Punjab government announced on Thursday the resumption of outdoor activities as the air quality and smog crisis improve in Lahore and other cities of the province.\u00a0According to the notification, outdoor activities and destinations including parks \u2014 both public and private \u2014 historical sites, monuments, museums, sporting events, play lands, exhibitions and festivals have been allowed to open from November 22 in Punjab.\u00a0 The destinations mentioned above are only allowed to remain open and active until 8pm, the notification says.\u00a0However, the government has requested the citizens to adhere to some rules and regulations such as the usage of masks in open areas, adults 65 years or more old shall avoid \u201cstrenuous exercise\u201d, people suffering from heart and lung issues should consult with their doctors before opting for outdoor activities and children aged less than five years should not be allowed in the playgrounds for longer periods.\u00a0The public has been further notified that all marketplaces in the cities of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala will be closed as the clock strikes 8pm while businesses have been allowed to operate on Saturdays and Sundays as well.\u00a0 However, pharmacies, medical facilities and laboratories, vaccination hubs, petrol pumps and oil depots,\u00a0<em>tandoors<\/em>, bakeries, grocery stores, dairy shops, postal and utility services as well as others are exempted from this restriction.\u00a0 &#8220;Large departmental stores may only keep their grocery\/pharmacy sections open while all other sections will remain closed,\u201d the notification further reads.\u00a0 The government has also allowed the deputy commissioner of districts concerned to decide other exemptions \u201cif needed necessary\u201d.\u00a0 Lahore and other cities of the province were swarmed by a severe smog crisis and the government was forced to take drastic actions, including the closure of schools. The air quality was dangerously poor, leaving residents struggling to breathe. The provincial government&#8217;s Environmental Protection Agency had also ordered a complete ban on the people&#8217;s entry in all parks (public and private), zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy\/play lands effective November 8, a notification signed by the director general of the agency Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pakistan(National Times)- The Punjab government announced on Thursday the resumption of outdoor activities as the air quality and smog crisis improve in Lahore and other cities of the province.\u00a0According to the notification, outdoor activities and destinations including parks \u2014 both public and private \u2014 historical sites, monuments, museums, sporting events, play lands, exhibitions and festivals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":93238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - 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