Shrinkage of urban green space has led to the disruption of the ecological balance. Population growth, industrial expansion, development activities and land encroachment reduce the vegetation cover of metropolitan cities including Lahore, Pakistan. Presently, Lahore is on top of all metropolitan cities in the world having worst air quality index (AQI). Thus, monitoring of the vegetation cover in urban areas is the ultimate need of the day for the conservation and protection of environment which is also the agenda of new government (Clean and Green Pakistan). Besides, Honorable Lahore High Court has also passed an order to plant trees in the oldest and biggest graveyard of Lahore to tackle the climate change issue. Considering the above-mentioned facts, the current research was carried out for the first time in Lahore, Pakistan to analyze the vegetation cover using spatio-temporal technique. For vegetation cover assessment, spatial techniques were used in the present study viz. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Transformed Normalized Vegetation Index (TNDVI), Difference Vegetation Index (DVI) and supervised classification. On the basis of high magnitude of smog and air pollution issue, four recent years were selected, i.e. 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 to observe ground reality. The results of the study revealed the depletion of vegetation cover in cemeteries at an alarming rate. Furthermore, the results of study revealed no significant change in green cover in Miani Sahib after the passing order of Lahore High Court of plantation in the graveyard.

The death rate of people is increasing globally during the current outbreak of coronavirus. To combat with COVID-19 havoc, the world has adopted lockdown policies, including Pakistan. Ironically, the invisible virus is suffocating humans at a fast rate but on the other side, there is a visible monster in the world gobbling up human health, i.e., air pollution. Therefore, the main rationale of the present research is to visualize the air quality during the 'Lockdown' period in Lahore, Pakistan by mapping via online tools and techniques using a geospatial system. According to the present findings, the concentrations of air pollutants, such as particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen oxides as NO and NO2, and sulphur dioxide, are below the maximum permissible levels of the Punjab Environmental Quality standards (PEQs), although ozone exceeds its PEQs. So in light of the results, once this COVID-19 crisis is over, the government should speed up measures to lessen air pollution to achieve targets of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Moreover, the present results of air assessment during COVID-19 would serve as a useful reminder for the government of Punjab to cut down air emission levels after the pandemic.

Brick sector is a mainstay of the urban economy of Punjab. The traditional technology of brick making emits a lot of toxic gases and smoke particulates into air. Hence, the Government of the Punjab, Pakistan announced a ban on low technology brick kiln operations during winter season by the end of December 2020. Initially, the existing set up of brick kilns and air pollution levels were evaluated before and during lockdown period using spatial application. Further, environmental parameters such as aerosols, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide were determined to analyze the air quality, including metrological factors. Results of the study exhibited that the upper and central regions of Punjab are the major hubs of brick kilns. So, the level of air quality was inconsistent in the study period due to the existence of large mushrooms of brick kilns. Further, despite lockdown the highest concentration of carbon monoxide was recorded in the eastern side of the province, such as Kasur, Lahore, and Sheikhupura. The level of aerosols also fluctuated and shifted its trends in the central and southern part of the province. While SO2 and CO2 level declined and revealed a satisfactory level of air quality during shutdown. On the other hand, no significant relation to metrological factors, such as rain, is involved in the pollution reduction. Conclusively, the findings of the present study encourage the government agencies to realign the stringent control measures to improve the quality of air in the winter months using the experience of quarantine in 2020.

Background: Around the world, majority of the public and private sector hospitals are using reusable gowns and scrubs whereas only a few hospitals are using disposable ones. Protection during surgery is very important both for the patient as well as for the surgeon. The reasons are not only hygienic but also creating a barrier so that the bacteria and the viruses do not transfer from patient to doctor and vice versa. The surgical gowns have been in use for many decades. With the advancements in the field of manufacturing (weaving and finishing), the quality of gowns has been improving over the period of time. In Pakistan, there is no awareness yet regarding the construction of surgical apparels viz. surgical gowns and scrubs so no standards are being followed as such during the manufacturing (weaving & finishing) of surgical apparels. For effective barrier function of surgical gowns and scrubs, it is necessary for them to comply with certain standards in terms of physical characteristics viz. mass per unit area, number of threads per unit length, tensile strength etc. The idea behind this study was to evaluate the physical characteristics of surgical gowns and scrubs currently being used in different public sector hospitals of Lahore. After which, necessary guidelines can be formulated and proposed to the concerned departments of various hospitals, in the light of which they can design some specifications and select appropriate materials for surgical apparels in future. Objectives: 1). To evaluate the physical characteristics of surgical apparels (gowns & scrubs) currently being used in different public sector hospitals of Lahore. 2). Comparison of results with existing/available performance requirements. Study design: Experimental study design. Period: April 2010-June 2010. Materials and Methods: Samples of fabric used for making surgical gowns and scrubs were collected from different hospitals of Lahore and evaluated for different fabric properties viz. mass per unit area, construction analysis (number of threads per unit length) and tensile properties in accordance with EN and ISO standards, in standard atmosphere for testing textiles. Results and Conclusions: The results obtained were compared with the available international standards and limited research studies done in the area of surgical apparels yet. It was found that none of the samples collected meet the minimal requirements available yet. So, there is a dire need of some minimal criteria of surgical apparels for the safety of the patients as well as of the health care personnel.