Lahore’s Battle Against Record-Breaking Pollution

APP

Lahore: Air pollution in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, has reached alarming levels, with officials reporting an unprecedented spike in the air quality index (AQI) on November 2.

The city, home to approximately 14 million residents, has been engulfed in thick smog, a hazardous mixture of fog and pollutants stemming from low-grade diesel emissions, smoke from seasonal crop burning, and winter heating.

The AQI soared to a staggering 1,067, far exceeding the ‘dangerous’ threshold of 300, as reported by IQAir. Jahangir Anwar, a senior official with the Environmental Protection Agency in Lahore, stated, “We have never reached a level of 1,000,” and warned that high pollution levels are expected to persist for the next three to four days.

The concentration of PM2.5 pollutants, which pose severe health risks, peaked at 610—over 40 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 15 for a 24-hour period.

Local resident Lilly Mirza expressed her concerns, saying, “As a mother, I am full of anxiety.” She described feeling “completely terrorized” after attending a sports event in one of the city’s pollution hotspots, highlighting the distress experienced by many families.

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Prolonged exposure to the toxic air is known to have dire health implications, including increased risks of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses, according to the WHO.

Smog conditions are especially severe during winter when cold, dense air traps harmful emissions at ground level.

As the pollution crisis escalates, authorities have implemented several measures. Last month, outdoor exercise for schoolchildren was suspended until January, and school hours were adjusted to limit exposure during peak pollution times.

New restrictions have also been announced, targeting high-pollution areas by banning polluting tuk-tuks and unfiltered barbecue restaurants. Starting Monday, government offices and private businesses will require half of their employees to work from home.

Moreover, construction activities have been halted, and street vendors who cook over open flames must cease operations by 8 pm.

Research from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute indicates that pollution levels exceeding WHO safety standards may reduce life expectancy for Lahore’s residents by an average of 7.5 years.

UNICEF has highlighted that nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to hazardous air pollution, with half of all childhood pneumonia deaths linked to such conditions.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, residents and officials alike are calling for urgent action to address the crisis and protect public health.