Smog Crisis in Lahore & Punjab Air Pollution Hits Dangerous Levels
Bad air continues to haunt Lahore and several other cities of Punjab despite authorities’ desperate steps to curb smog.
The Shrine city of Multan with its 1659 AQI reading has been the most polluted place in Pakistan with dangerous levels of hazardous pollutants in the air.
The Lahore-Islamabad and Lahore-Sialkot Motorway sections have been closed to vehicular traffic owing to poor visibility caused by thick fog.
Punjab government recently announced the closure of schools up to higher secondary levels in smog-hit districts of the province till 17 November.
The schools’ shutdowns in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafiz Abad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chinniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodharan, Vehari and Khanewal districts.
The decision was made as the province grappling with severe air pollution, which has soared to alarming levels, affecting public health, especially of children.
Lahore has been consistently ranked top among the most polluted cities globally, prompting urgent action from authorities.
Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the air direction from India has been towards Lahore resulting in increasing smog. “This issue could not be resolved without talking to India.”
“Polluted eastern winds, blowing from India, have a direction towards Lahore,” secretary environment protection agency, Jahangir Anwar said.
This polluted air has added to smog in Lahore and given an extraordinary boost to the AQI reading
Talking to AFP earlier, a senior environmental protection official said, “We have never reached a level of 1,000.”
For days, Lahore has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning, and winter cooling.
Air pollution level in Lahore once soared to more than 80 times over the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organization (WHO), AFP said in a report.
The level of deadly PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter in the air that causes the most damage to health — peaked at 1,067, before dropping to around 300 in the morning, with anything above 10 considered unhealthy by the WHO.
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.
