Air pollution in Lahore has reached record levels, leaving 14 million people struggling to breathe due to thick smog in Pakistan's second-largest city. A government minister has blamed India for the situation, claiming that "strong winds" carried pollutants from India into Pakistan.
On Sunday, Lahore was named the world's most polluted city for the second time in a row, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to an alarming 1,067. To put this in perspective, an AQI of 0-50 is considered 'good,' while anything above 450 is labeled 'severe plus.'
Due to this extreme pollution, authorities have decided to close schools for a week starting Monday, and 50% of government and private sector employees are being asked to work from home as part of a "green lockdown." Other measures include banning polluting tuk-tuks, restaurants that cook over open fires, and construction work.
Last month, schools in Lahore prohibited outdoor exercise for children until at least January 2025 and adjusted school hours to avoid travel during peak pollution times.
During a press conference, Punjab province's senior minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, called for discussions with India to address the pollution issues. She emphasized that the problem cannot be solved without talks and urged Lahore residents to limit unnecessary travel and keep their homes sealed.
Another official, Raja Jehangir Anwar, mentioned that stubble burning in India is a major cause of the pollution, calling it a "big headache."
A decision about reopening schools in Lahore will be made by November 9 after reassessing the pollution situation. Last week, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz called for collaboration with India to combat smog, stating it is a humanitarian issue, not a political one.
Research from the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute shows that pollution levels above what the World Health Organization considers safe can shorten the life expectancy of Lahore residents by an average of 7.5 years. Additionally, UNICEF reports that nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to high levels of air pollution, which is linked to half of all childhood pneumonia deaths.
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