10 killed in smog-related accidents in Pakistan

At least 10 people were killed and 27 others injured in separate smog-related accidents in Pakistan's East Punjab province over the last two days.

The victims included three children on their way to school, five members of a family, and motorbike riders in various districts of the province, Dunya News said.

Punjab has been blanketed by a thick layer of smog due to which the visibility level is very low at some places.

The motorway police have instructed vehicle drivers to reduce speed, especially during morning and evening hours, and switch on fog lights to avoid accidents.

Mohammad Riaz, chief of Pakistan Metrological Department, said that lack of rains in the country have caused smog. Apart from it, excess of pollution, smoke from vehicles, factories and burnt crops have aggravated the situation.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formed a high-level committee to monitor the smog. He directed the concerned officials to take immediate measures to control the situation.

The committee has also been tasked to hold meetings on daily basis with traffic police officials, agriculture department, local government department and environmental protection department to jointly fight smog issue.

--IANS

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