Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has offered the Indian government help in combating smog, which has engulfed both sides of the Punjab border in India and Pakistan.
The minister took to his Twitter handle on Thursday and wrote that crop burning in Jalandhar is wreaking havoc with environment on both sides of Punjab border. He also came up with a solution to help the Indian government and offered his help.
"We can help Indian Punjab Government to use a machine solution to turn crop waste into a burning billet that can be used as fuel when needed," the minister tweeted.
Crop burning in Jallender is playing havoc with environment on both sides of Punjab border, We can help Indian Punjb Govt to use a machine solution to turn crop waste into a burning billet, that can be used as fuel when needed #Sciencehelps
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 7, 2019
This week a public health emergency was declared in New Delhi following the thick smog, which was more than three times the hazardous level on the Global Air Quality Index (AQI). Much of the smog is being generated by crop burning in areas around New Delhi, where farmers light fires to get rid of leftover crops and stubble.
Pakistan's side of Lahore has also been affected due to the winds blowing in from India. On Wednesday, the smog level increased prompting the Punjab government to announce that schools will be closed on Thursday.