BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an urgent meeting to address the escalating PM 2.5 air pollution crisis, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress following directives issued at a Cabinet meeting two weeks ago.
The meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, brought together key figures, including Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, along with officials from various ministries and agencies.
Before the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that she had called for the emergency session ahead of her scheduled international travel. Highlighting the alarming PM 2.5 levels seen this week—with air quality indices in Bangkok soaring to 153 and beyond—she emphasized the urgent need for effective measures.
“Looking at the maps, it’s orange, red, and even purple in some areas. I want to hear what each ministry has done so far, as the previous directives issued during the Cabinet meeting don’t seem to have yielded significant results. This issue is critical, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly,” said Prime Minister Paetongtarn.
Acknowledging the lack of satisfactory progress, she urged all relevant ministries to present their current and planned actions to mitigate the issue effectively. (TNA)
