In a decisive move, the Punjab government on Tuesday declared a smart lockdown in seven districts to tackle the escalating air pollution levels and an alarming increase in Conjunctivitis cases.
The affected districts include Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, and Narowal, all of which have been grappling with the highest recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels recently.
A notification issued by the Punjab Health Department has raised the red flag, citing the escalating threat of Conjunctivitis, also known as Pink Eye.
The notification reads, "The spread of Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye due to bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust, or chemical exposure is increasing day by day, which poses a serious and imminent threat to public health."
Exemptions
Recognizing the importance of maintaining critical services, the government has outlined exemptions for key personnel. Judges, lawyers, court staff, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, essential service providers, WASAs, Municipalities, WAPDA, NTDC, DISCOS, and SNGPL are among those who will be exempt from the lockdown restrictions.
