Severe Air Pollution Crisis in Punjab, Pakistan
In a desperate bid to combat the ongoing air pollution crisis, officials in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, have implemented a series of drastic measures. These actions include the impounding of heavily polluting vehicles, dismantling illegal kilns, prohibiting rickshaw operations, and shutting down several barbecue restaurants. As record levels of air pollution envelop the region, the health of residents hangs in the balance, with hundreds falling ill and many students and workers forced to remain at home.
Lahore, the provincial capital and the second-largest city in Pakistan, recently experienced its worst air quality on record. On Sunday, the air quality reached alarming levels, prompting the government to close all primary schools for the week. Since then, the city has been engulfed in a thick, toxic smog that irritates the eyes and exacerbates respiratory issues. On Thursday, Lahore was reported to have the worst air quality of any city globally, according to data from IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring organization.
“The air feels suffocating, and it’s exhausting just to breathe,” expressed Safdar Masih, a 42-year-old gardener residing in Lahore. He described how, despite efforts to seal windows and doors, the persistent smog had infiltrated their homes, making everyday life increasingly difficult.
In response to the escalating crisis, authorities on Wednesday announced a new set of public health measures. They extended school closures to encompass all secondary schools until November 17 and recommended that residents wear masks when in public spaces. These directives will impact over 70 million people across the province. In Lahore, which is home to approximately 13 million residents, officials have mandated that half of the workforce remain at home to mitigate exposure to the hazardous air.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in Punjab Province, addressed the media on Wednesday, declaring, “This is a critical situation.” She cautioned that the adverse air quality conditions might persist for another ten days, highlighting the severity of the environmental crisis faced by the region.
