Haze from Across Border Darkens Punjab Skies

New Desk 

Lahore: The people of Lahore woke up again this week to a thick, choking haze — a poisonous fog that has turned their city into a gas chamber.

But this time, health experts say, the toxic air did not originate within Punjab alone. Winds from across the border in India’s Punjab and Haryana regions, where farmers are burning crop residue ahead of the wheat season, have carried dangerous pollutants deep into Pakistani territory.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore soared to a staggering 346 on Sunday, officially placing the city’s air in the “hazardous” category. In some neighbourhoods, the numbers were far worse: Gulberg 595, Civil Secretariat 557, and Iqbal Town 547, leaving residents struggling to breathe.

“Lahore’s pollution has reached critically dangerous levels,” warned Dr. Nadeem Afzal, a renowned immunologist. “The elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Prolonged exposure can be life-threatening.”

The Smog That Crosses Borders

Experts attribute a large part of the toxic air to cross-border agricultural burning, a practice that occurs annually in India’s northern states. As farmers torch paddy stubble to prepare fields for the next crop, winds carry the smoke westward into Pakistan, merging with domestic pollution sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial waste, and brick kilns.

Environmental observers say the Indus Basin region, stretching across eastern Pakistan and northern India, has become a shared pollution corridor, where borders mean little to the flow of particulate matter (PM2.5).

“Air knows no borders,” said environmental analyst Ali Tauqeer Sheikh in a recent commentary. “What we burn in Punjab or Haryana doesn’t stop at Wagah — it spreads, mixes, and poisons both sides equally.”

Health at Risk

Medical experts across Lahore have raised the alarm, warning that particulate matter concentrations are many times higher than the globally accepted safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Naveed Afzal advised citizens to wear protective masks and increase water intake to counter the pollutants’ harmful effects. He also recommended pneumonia vaccinations for elderly and immunocompromised individuals to reduce respiratory complications.

“The air we’re breathing is not just dirty — it’s dangerous,” Dr. Afzal emphasized. “Every breath taken under such conditions chips away at public health.”

Hospitals in Lahore and Faisalabad have reported a surge in respiratory and eye infections, particularly among children and outdoor workers.

Government Crackdown — But Challenges Remain

To combat the crisis, the Punjab Police have intensified anti-smog operations across the province. In the past 24 hours alone, authorities registered 27 new cases and arrested several violators for crop residue burning, industrial pollution, and vehicle emissions.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said that since the start of the year, over 2,000 smog-related cases have been registered, 1,837 violators arrested, and fines exceeding Rs. 216 million imposed.

Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar has directed officers to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against polluters across highways, industrial zones, and agricultural lands.

Yet, experts warn that local enforcement alone cannot solve a transboundary problem. Without regional cooperation between Pakistan and India, the annual “smog season” will continue to suffocate millions across the borderlands.

The Meteorological Outlook

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that the ongoing dry spell and stagnant atmospheric conditions will likely worsen air quality across Punjab in the coming days.

“Thick layers of smog will continue to blanket major cities, reducing visibility and increasing health risks,” the Met Office said. Citizens have been urged to wear masks, limit outdoor activities, and avoid early morning or late evening exposure, when smog tends to thicken.

According to PMD data, air pollution levels remain dangerously high in Faisalabad (AQI 377), Gujranwala (379), and Multan (276), making much of Punjab’s air unsafe to breathe.

A Shared Crisis, A Shared Responsibility

As both nations battle political tension, experts argue that climate and air pollution demand cooperation, not confrontation. Joint monitoring systems, data sharing, and synchronized policy action could help curb the regional smog menace.

“The smog doesn’t need a visa,” said an environmental policy researcher at Punjab University. “It travels freely — and so should our resolve to stop it.”

Until that happens, millions in Lahore and beyond will remain trapped under a toxic haze of apathy and inaction, inhaling a crisis that transcends borders.