LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed satisfaction over a significant 42 per cent improvement in Lahore’s air quality compared to last year.
She said empirical data indicates a clear enhancement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) on 23 out of 30 days of November 2025. The month’s average AQI has dropped from 453 in November 2024 to 261 this year, when pollution levels had previously been at their peak.
The chief minister said that historic measures taken during her one-and-a-half-year tenure were now yielding results. Proper legislation, strict enforcement of environmental laws and the use of modern machinery and technology had played a decisive role in this positive shift, she added.
Maryam noted that for the first time in Punjab’s history, her government had introduced a comprehensive vision to make all sectors environmentally friendly. She added that enhanced forest protection and increased tree plantation also contributed meaningfully to the improvement in air quality.
Calling the progress a result of “hard work and public cooperation”, the chief minister thanked Allah Almighty for enabling the province to establish a modern forecasting system equipped with advanced monitoring and surveillance technologies. Continuous oversight of kilns and industrial units was underway, she added.
She particularly praised the performance of superseeders, observing that 5,000 machines were deployed this season, leading to a record reduction in incidents of crop residue burning. However, she cautioned that falling temperatures were pushing the province into a more challenging phase.
Maryam said while the improvement is encouraging, “a great deal of work still lies ahead” to tackle smog and air pollution effectively. She urged the public to continue extending full support, stressing that this achievement is only the beginning and that an environmentally friendly Punjab remains the ultimate goal.
In her message on the International Civil Aviation Day, CM Maryam Nawaz said the role of the aviation industry in boosting the economy, promoting tourism and strengthening public relations cannot be understated. She said the Punjab government is committed to providing modern air travel facilities to citizens, adding that a proposal to establish the Punjab Airline is under consideration.
Highlighting the transformative power of aviation, she said the industry has effectively turned the world into a global village by shrinking distances. She also paid tribute to the prime minister for restoring the lost standing of Pakistan’s aviation sector, noting that PIA has regained permission to operate flights to Europe owing to his dedicated and strategic efforts.
Later, the chief minister directed relevant authorities to expedite development works in Ravi City. She inspected the M2 Ravi Toll Plaza River Training Works and received a detailed briefing on the project. She also reviewed progress on the RUDA Package 16 River Training Works. Chairman RUDA Shahid Ashraf Tarar, CEO Imran Amin and COO Brigadier Mansoor Janjua briefed her on-site.
Maryam also paid rich tribute to the security forces for “consigning to hell” 12 Indian-backed terrorists in Kalat. Reaffirming the government’s resolve, she said Pakistan has made a final decision to dismantle every network of terrorism.
“Our forces are our pride, and the nation stands proud of their bravery and professionalism,”
she added.
