Lahore’s Smog Crisis Worsens, Toxic Air Now Visible from Space
Punjab’s ongoing smog crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with thick clouds of toxic air blanketing cities like Lahore and Multan now visible from space, as seen in recent satellite images from NASA. The extensive pollution not only engulfs much of Punjab but also shrouds regions in northern India, with satellite views showing both Lahore and New Delhi obscured by dense, dark haze.
This season, Lahore has topped the Air Quality Index (AQI) as the world’s most polluted city, according to Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir. Lahore’s air quality is classified as “very hazardous,” surpassing other severely polluted cities, including New Delhi in India and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which ranked second and third, respectively.
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The deteriorating air quality has spurred health and safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations. UNICEF issued a stark warning about the impact on over 11 million children under the age of five in Punjab, citing a surge in hospitalizations from respiratory issues linked to the smog. “As smog persists in Punjab, I am alarmed by the health risks it brings to children who have no choice but to breathe this polluted air,” UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, stated. He highlighted that hundreds, including children, have been hospitalized due to the toxic air.
To mitigate immediate health risks, Pakistani authorities have closed schools and public spaces, aiming to protect millions exposed to hazardous air. The seasonal smog, which worsens each winter, is driven by factors like crop burning, emissions from coal-fired power plants, traffic pollution, and stagnant weather conditions. While smog is an annual issue across South Asia, this season’s severity is unprecedented, according to officials in Lahore.
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