Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Punjab province in Pakistan, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts with India’s Punjab to combat the shared problem of smog, describing it as a humanitarian rather than a political issue. Speaking at a Diwali event, she expressed her intention to write to Indian Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, advocating for diplomatic cooperation on the smog matter. She noted that without a united approach from both Punjabs, addressing the smog challenge would be difficult.
Her comments came as her government issued a smog alert due to a significant decline in Lahore’s air quality, impacting visibility in the city. Maryam emphasized that effective climate diplomacy with India could be beneficial for people on both sides of the border, stating, “the winds don’t recognize political borders.” Last week, her government announced plans for artificial rain to alleviate the smog situation after Lahore recorded a concerning Air Quality Index (AQI) of 394, though no specific date for this intervention has been disclosed.