LAHORE: Increasing levels of smog in Pakistan is bigger issue then Dengue, experts have warned.
Speakers and Public Health Experts at an Awareness Seminar on Smog held at Institute of Public Health (IPH) on Tuesday said global warming is a bigger issue, due to that environmental pollution and Smog problems are increasing day by day.
They said stakeholders have to prepare themselves to face the challenges of near future.
They were of the view that society must be developed on the scientific basis instead of traditions so that the people should understand issues concerning to their health.
Industrial Revolution, smoke from the brick kilns, burning of remaining of the crops and solid waste and smoke produced by the vehicles on the roads are the basic cause of producing Smog. Awareness campaign at mass level needed to overcome this issue. The experts declared Smog as a big issue than Dengue.
The Speakers of the seminar were included Chairman Board of Management (BOM) IPH, Lt. Gen.(r) Khalid Maqbool, Member Health and Nutrition P&D Department Dr. Suhail Saqlain, Dean IPH Prof. Dr. Zarfishan Tahir and other public health experts from environment department. Chairman Task Force P&D Sardar Awais Dreshak, Chief Health P&D Salim Masih, Officers from Health department, PITB and other concerned departments also present in the seminar.
Lt. Gen. Khalid Maqbool said that poor and developing countries have not enough resources and technology to fight against the issues produced by the global warming. He further said that all the stakeholders including Institute of Public Health should prepare themselves and should come up with long term strategy / policy to overcome these challenges.
He said that big behavioral changes in people lives is the need of hour and we should adopt alternate sources of energy like Solar energy and tree plantation at mass level to safe our environment for future generation.
Member Health P&D Dr. Suhail Saqlain was of the view that Industrial revolution, rapid urbanization , smoke produced by the unfit vehicles, burning of agriculture crops and Solid Waste is the basic causes of Smog which badly affect not only the humen health but also reduce their abilities.
Dr. Suhail Saqlain further explained that we have to work on Prevention as well as Health Promotion for creating healthy environment in which healthy people could think about their health before getting sick.
Dean IPH Dr. Zarfishan Tahir urged that every individual should play its role to control smog. She said that people should not burn solid waste of their houses, avoid from BBQs smoke, check their vehicles fitness before coming on roads so that smoke could not be produced.
Other Public Health Experts urged upon the public to take preventive measure against smog and wear mask while going outside and avoid unnecessary traveling, drink much water to protrect themselves from dehydration and do not use air freshners which also pollute the environment.
At the end of Seminar Awareness Walk was also arranged which was lead by Chairman Task force of P&D, Sardar Awais Dreshak, Member Health Dr. Suhail Saqlain, Dean IPH Dr. Zarfishan Tahir. Shields were also presented to the guests.
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