To Pakistan's ‘Lahore is dying’ barb, Bhagwant Mann to Maryam Nawaz ‘no blame game, please’; read to know more
Thick, toxic smog clouds have enveloped not only North India, but our neighbouring Pakistan’s cities, which, too, has been reeling under severe pollution.
Things are so bad that Lahore was visible from space as per satellite imagery taken by US space agency NASA, Geo News reported on Tuesday.
With everyone getting breathless over deteriorating smog crisis around, the “blame game” has begun over the issue.
Mann, addressing a conclave here, took a jibe at Pakistan's Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for blaming smoke from Indian Punjab affecting air quality there.
مریم بی بی کو پنجابی جواب۔ تو وی لکھ لے چھٹی بیبا۔ ہم بھی کہ سکتے ہیں کہ چنگا نہی او کیتا بیبا دل ساڈا توڑ کے۔ مگر سچی بات ہے کہ مسلہ اپنا ہے۔ مشرقی پنجاب پر نہ ڈالیں۔ سرکاری رپورٹ کہتی ہے 83 فیصد آلودگی ٹرانسپورٹ کی وجہ سے ہے۔ بجائے لندن بھاگنے کے اس مسلئے کا حل نکالیں۔ بھگوت… https://t.co/1eUmfpfCw5
— Amir Mateen (@AmirMateen2) November 13, 2024
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann responds to Pakistan Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif on the stubble pollution issue. CM Mann said, “Pakistan Punjab CM is saying our smog is reaching Lahore, Delhi says it’s reaching there too—seems our pollution is making a circle and going round. pic.twitter.com/WnoTE4LFra
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) November 13, 2024
"Pakistan Punjab CM Maryam (who is the daughter of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif) is saying that she will write to me...she says your (Punjab) smoke reaches Lahore.
"On the other hand, Delhiwale says your smoke reaches Delhi. It seems our smoke is circling around," he said.
"What should we do? Everybody targets us (Punjab). Its solution has to be found. It is not a problem of Punjab only," said Mann at the conclave.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi and the region after the paddy harvest in October and November.
Veteran Pakistani actress Simi Raheel also voiced her outrage over Lahore's deteriorating smog crisis, and criticised the provincial government for its inaction.
The actress posted a story on Instagram and wrote, "Lahore is dying, and no one is doing anything to save it. Not everyone has the option to go to London," in a clear criticism of leaders in Punjab."
Raheel's post aimed at Maryam Nawaz and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, expressing her disappointment with the government's handling of the environmental crisis, the Express Tribune reported.
Various cities in Pakistan, including major ones like Multan and Islamabad are battling the smog crisis.
The deteriorating air quality in Pakistan saw the UNICEF issuing a warning that the highly polluted air in Punjab is posing severe risks to people, including more than 11 million children under the age of five, Geo News reported.
With inputs from agencies
