Punjab minister says smog is not a political issue
Marriyum Aurangzeb says this year's smog is better than previous years, as Indian monitors face criticism over Diwali pollution readings
Punjab's senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said at a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday that smog is "not a political issue", describing it as a scientific, environmental and public health challenge, as Lahore and New Delhi both gasped for air.
She said there should be no politics over smog, environmental protection and public health, because those questions concern the lives, health and future of millions of people.
"Smog is not a political issue. It is a scientific, environmental and public health challenge," Ms Aurangzeb told the briefing, according to Dawn.
The minister said the situation was much better than in previous years and attributed the improvement to concerted efforts.
Dawn's account of the briefing also said Indian monitoring agencies had been criticised for "under-reporting" pollution over Diwali, the festival period during which the region's air worsens sharply. An authority said toxicity levels were "too high" to record.
Lahore is the capital of Punjab, and New Delhi is the Indian capital. Both cities were gasping for air, Dawn reported.
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