Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, known for his sharp wit, recently made a humorous jab at Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz following her comments on the smog affecting Lahore.
At a public event, Mann playfully addressed Maryam Nawaz’s remarks, saying that she had mentioned plans to write to him about the smog from Indian Punjab impacting Lahore. “Delhi also says the same thing,” he remarked. “It seems like our pollution is forming a circle and moving around. I’d say to Maryam Nawaz, ‘You’re welcome to write a letter too.’”
Read more: Exclusive: Trump’s team drawing up list of Pentagon officers to fire
Mann stressed, however, that rather than engaging in blame games, regional governments should cooperate to address the air pollution crisis.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz had stated she was considering reaching out to the Indian Punjab CM through a formal letter, urging diplomatic collaboration to tackle the cross-border smog issue. Speaking in London alongside her father, Nawaz Sharif, she acknowledged that the smog problem has persisted for years and would take time to resolve fully, though the provincial government was working to mitigate its effects.
The worsening smog across Pakistan’s Punjab province, largely exacerbated by stubble burning in northern India, has led to dangerous air quality levels, creating a health crisis for millions. According to Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), around 30% of the smog in Punjab, including Lahore, is attributed to pollutants drifting across the border from India.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz denies suffering from throat cancer
Satellite imagery from NASA has shown extensive stubble burning in India’s Punjab and Haryana states, where farmers burn crop residue post-harvest to prepare for the next planting season. The images also indicate that crop burning persists in parts of Pakistan as well, with more significant activity on the Indian side despite bans by both countries.
The combination of cross-border smoke, local emissions, and cooler temperatures has created dense smog that has forced Pakistan to implement emergency measures, including school and park closures in 18 districts, with residents advised to stay indoors.