Lahore News: The authorities in Pakistan’s Lahore have taken a slew of measures to curb the dangerously high air pollution levels in the city. The city has declared the closure of schools from November 4, at least for one week, while 50 percent of office workers will be required to work from home. This ‘Green Lockdown’ promises to reduce the effect of hazardous air.
The air quality Index (AQI) of Lahore witnessed a major spike over the weekend sparking health alerts and public concern. The city’s AQI breached over 1000 which is nearly 40 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit. This severe smog crisis has placed Lahore at the top of the world’s most polluted cities list for the second time.
Talking about the harmful effect of smog on children, Punjab’s Senior Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb informed that the government has recommended mandatory masks in schools. “This smog is very harmful for children,” she stated.
She also highlighted the need for cross-border discussions with India, noting that strong winds are carrying polluted air into Pakistan.
Pakistan’s pollution crisis is led by a combination of local diesel emissions, agricultural burning, and winter cooling, all contributing to a dense layer of smog. The situation has worsened as polluted air from India crossed the border, with AQI levels in some areas reaching between 1,500 and 1,800 on Saturday morning.
UNICEF data shows nearly 600 million children across South Asia face similar pollution levels, with half of all childhood pneumonia deaths in the region linked to poor air quality.
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