Lahore: Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, is under intense scrutiny for her recent Europe trip. This comes at a time when several cities, including Lahore, Multan, and surrounding areas, are grappling with a severe smog crisis, leading to them being labelled as the most polluted region in the world.
Maryam Nawaz travelled to Switzerland on Wednesday night, where she was joined by other family members, including her father and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who arrived from London.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Punjab CM is in Geneva to undergo a medical checkup for a thyroid gland.
She is later expected to visit London with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief before returning home sometime next week.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Ali Saif on Sunday alleged that Maryam Nawaz had hired a private jet for the journey, and the father-daughter duo are “enjoying the fresh air of Geneva” even as the people of Punjab are struggling to breathe.
“The plane was reportedly filled with trunks and suitcases. The country’s condition is dire, but their royal expenses show no sign of ending,” Pakistani daily The Express Tribune quoted Saif as saying.
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“Despite multiple terms in power, they haven’t established a single hospital where they can receive treatment themselves,” he added.
Several Pakistani cities are currently facing a severe smog crisis as the air quality remains in an extremely hazardous zone. The smog, a result of a combination of factors including industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and crop burning, has led to a significant deterioration in air quality, posing serious health risks to the residents.
Local media reported Sunday that the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached alarming levels in Multan and Lahore, making them the most polluted cities in the world. This has led to a health emergency, with the young and elderly being particularly vulnerable to severe air pollution.
A lockdown-like situation has already been created with the government declaring ‘smog calamity across Punjab province.
After already shutting down schools until November 17, Pakistan Punjab’s provincial government on Friday ordered a complete ban on people’s entry to public and private parks, zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums, and joy/play lands effective immediately due to the massive deterioration of air quality.
On Thursday, a three-year-old girl moved a petition against the provincial government in the Lahore High Court (LHC) as the entire region reels under the severe impact of smog.
The petitioner, Amal Sekhera, through her lawyer, maintained in the petition that young children and the elderly are severely affected by air pollution and sought justice for herself, her friends and future generations.
“Under Article 99-A of the Constitution, the government is obligated to provide citizens with a clean and healthy environment,” the petition stated.
The petition criticised the Punjab government for failing to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
As per the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir, Lahore has been topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with AQI levels exceeding 1000 several times during the past couple of weeks.
The smog has also affected nearby cities such as Kasur, Sheikhupura, Muridke and Gujranwala.
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–IANS
