Record air pollution in Lahore, Pakistan, has prompted authorities to implement drastic measures to protect public health, affecting millions in the densely populated region. With the city’s Air Quality Index skyrocketing to its highest recorded levels, residents are struggling with severe health issues related to the toxic smog that has engulfed Lahore.
In response to this crisis, the Punjab government has ordered the temporary closure of primary and secondary schools until at least mid-November and urged millions in the province to wear masks in public. The ban extends even to particular industries known to contribute to air pollution, including an impounding of polluting vehicles and shutting down of brick kilns.
This city of 13 million reported its worst air quality ever, with officials from IQAir declaring that Lahore had the most polluted air in the world on recent days. Local residents have expressed despair over the situation, describing the air as thick and exhaustingly difficult to breathe, even within their homes.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior government official, acknowledged the seriousness of the air quality issue, indicating that if measures do not improve the situation, residents could face further challenges over the next ten days. This calamity has forced many to stay home, demonstrating the urgency of actions aimed at combating longstanding pollution issues.
