The second-largest city in Pakistan, Lahore, is covered in a thick blanket of haze, strangling 14 million residents as air pollution reaches a record high. A minister has also accused India of causing the “unprecedented” crisis, claiming that “strong winds” brought pollutants into Pakistan from the neighboring country.
Lahore topped the list of cities with the most filthy air in the world for a second time on Sunday. The city’s Air Quality Index rose to a staggering 1,067 the day before.
A score of zero to fifty is regarded as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” 401 to 450 as “severe,” and over 450 as “severe plus.”
Authorities in Lahore have shuttered schools for a week beginning Monday due to the pollution levels that have broken records. Additionally, as part of a “green lockdown” plan, 50% of government and commercial sector employees have been urged to work from home.
Additional measures include prohibiting construction projects, eateries and food vendors who use open flames for cooking, and tuk-tuks using two-stroke engines that emit pollutants.
Last month, school hours were changed to avoid students traveling during the peak pollution periods, and schoolchildren around the city were prohibited from exercising outside until at least January 2025.
Senior Punjab provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb called for negotiations with India to address the pollution problems during a press conference on Sunday. He also stated that authorities will start negotiations with New Delhi through Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
“This cannot be solved without talks with India,” she continued, advising citizens of Punjab province’s capital, Lahore, to stay indoors, avoid needless travel, and keep doors and windows closed.
The “biggest headache” in India is stubble burning, which is a major source of air pollution, according to Raja Jehangir Anwar, another Punjab administrator.
When officials reevaluate the pollution situation on November 9, a decision on the reopening of Lahore’s schools will be made.
Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, urged last week that India and Punjab work together to combat smog, which she dubbed the two nations’ shared adversary. “This is a humanitarian issue, not a political one,” she stated.
According to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, pollution levels above WHO-recommended acceptable thresholds reduce the life expectancy of Lahore residents by an average of 7.5 years.
Nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to high levels of air pollution, and air pollution is linked to half of pediatric pneumonia mortality, according to Unicef.
Leave a Reply