LAHORE: Senior medical experts have stressed that the government introduce smog-free technology to prevent people from asthma, which, according to them, is taking a heavy toll on a huge population of the country.

Addressing a seminar on asthma organised at the Lahore General Hospital, they called for emergency measures to stop fast spread of the disease.

It is worth mentioning that this year the World Health Organization has given the title of `Asthma Care for All`, which aims to spread awareness among people and draw special attention to the care and treatment of patients suffering from the disease.

Post Graduate Medical Institute & Ameer Uddin Medical College Principal Prof Dr Sardar Muhammad Alfreed Zafar, Prof. Saulatullah Khan, Dr. Javed Magsi, Dr. Irfan Malik, Dr. Hafiza Shafia Naz and others expressed their views on the occasion.

A large number of doctors, medical students, paramedics and patients of asthma were also present in the walk and awareness seminar.

Prof Alfreed said it is very important to control the environmental pollution for which the respective departments should strictly implement traffic rules and ensure the use of `smog-free technology` in the industry.The PGMI prin-cipal said asthma had been going on since ancient times, which can be transmitted from parents to children but the development of modern era, industrialisation, expansion of cities, increase in environmental pollution and other factors have increased the spread of the disease.

`Trees and forests on the planet are rapidly decreasing and high-rise buildings,factories and industrialunits have increased`, Prof Alfreed Zafar lamented.Dr Javed Magsi said in some areas, pollen allergy also affects people and they temporarily suffer from asthma.

He said it can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and other health issues in a person.

Dr. Irfan stressed that asthma must be treated by a qualified physician and if any breathing problem or symptoms are still there then immediate diagnosis is vital so that timely treatment can be started to prevent the severity of the disease.

Dr. Hafiza Shafia Naz said usually the use of inhaler provides immediate relief to patients; however proper treatment should be started in the light of doctors` advice and diagnostic reports.

Dr Khalid Bin Aslam said patients in the LGH pulmonology ward are availing themselves of the best medical arrangements for treatment and diagnosis of asthma so the citizens should feel free tocome for their problems.