Lahore's air quality index better than Delhi's, says PM's adviser.

LAHORE -- Admitting that smog has become a big issue, Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has said Pakistan has taken measures to stop crops stubble burning, a major cause of the phenomenon, and other countries should also come forward to address it.

He was inspecting the air quality monitoring station installed at Meteorology Department on Sunday. Environment Protection Secretary Salman Ijaz, Director General Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Tanveer Ahmed Warraich, chief meteorologist and other concerned officers were also present.

The adviser said that smog was considered as one of the grave environmental problems being faced by the people across the world. The air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was much better than that of New Delhi, he added.

Terming a news about the AQI of Lahore being higher at the international level baseless, he aid the government would increase monitoring capacity of the index in order to ascertain facts and figures regarding climate change.

Mr Aslam said two smog checking units had been installed in Lahore and his department was also focusing on measures to increase resources to address the issue. 'With the help of the World Bank the government was launching a programme to address the air quality issue,' he said.

The adviser said the smog level in India was...