Pakistan Bans Entry to Parks, Zoos as Air Pollution Worsens

A vendor carries a bucket of radish across a railway track engulfed in smog in Lahore on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)
A vendor carries a bucket of radish across a railway track engulfed in smog in Lahore on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)
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Pakistan Bans Entry to Parks, Zoos as Air Pollution Worsens

A vendor carries a bucket of radish across a railway track engulfed in smog in Lahore on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)
A vendor carries a bucket of radish across a railway track engulfed in smog in Lahore on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)

Pakistan's Punjab banned entry to many public spaces from Friday, including parks and zoos, as it sought to protect people from severe air pollution in parts of the eastern province.

The provincial capital Lahore has been engulfed in a thick, smoky haze this week and was consistently rated the world's most polluted city by Swiss group IQAir in its live rankings, prompting the closure of schools and work-from-home mandates, Reuters reported.

The Punjab government's Friday order placed a "complete ban on public entry in all parks ... zoos, play grounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/play lands" until Nov. 17 in areas including Lahore.

Many parts of South Asia suffer severe pollution as temperatures drop each winter and cold, heavy air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from stubble burning - the illegal practice of burning crop waste to quickly clear fields.

Punjab last week blamed toxic air wafting in from neighboring India - where air quality has also reached hazardous levels - for the particularly high pollution this year.

IQAir rated the Indian capital New Delhi the world's second most polluted city on Friday, with government data indicating that farm fires in the neighboring farming states of Punjab and Haryana were among the major contributors.
To discourage the practice which has been lower this year, India's federal government doubled fines imposed on violators on Wednesday.

Farmers with less than two acres of land will now have to pay 5,000 rupees ($60) for violations. Those owning between two and five acres will pay 10,000 rupees and farmers with more than five acres will pay 30,000 rupees, the environment ministry said.



26 Endangered Animals Find New Home in Saudi Arabia’s Soudah

The initiative aims to boost the region's biodiversity and tourism as part of a broader program to reintroduce wildlife and restore ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. SPA
The initiative aims to boost the region's biodiversity and tourism as part of a broader program to reintroduce wildlife and restore ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. SPA
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26 Endangered Animals Find New Home in Saudi Arabia’s Soudah

The initiative aims to boost the region's biodiversity and tourism as part of a broader program to reintroduce wildlife and restore ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. SPA
The initiative aims to boost the region's biodiversity and tourism as part of a broader program to reintroduce wildlife and restore ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. SPA

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) and Soudah Development released 26 endangered animals into their natural habitat in the Soudah region.

This initiative aims to boost the region's biodiversity and tourism as part of a broader program to reintroduce wildlife and restore ecosystems in Saudi Arabia.

NCW’s CEO Dr. Mohammad Qurban explained that the release follows biodiversity studies in national parks to assess the impact of such efforts. The center monitors wildlife in protected areas using technology to track populations and understand the challenges they face.

Soudah Development has announced environmental initiatives to enrich biodiversity and attract 2 million annual visitors by 2030.