Lahore’s toxic smog is now visible from space, one area reports 720 AQI
Nov 12, 2024, 13:10 IST
The thick toxic smog enveloping Lahore, Pakistan, has now reached alarming levels, with the pollution visible from space, an ANI report says. Satellite imagery from NASA reveals that the dense haze has taken over not just Lahore, but several other cities like Multan, making streets and buildings almost impossible to see, a report by Geo News said.
According to the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Lahore, on Tuesday, turned out to have the most polluted air in the world. At noon today the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore stood at 429 with one locality showing real time AQI reading of 720.
The ANI report adds that this severe air pollution is linked to a combination of factors, including agricultural practices like stubble burning, uncontrolled vehicle emissions, outdated industrial practices, and weak environmental regulations. The crisis has become so severe that schools and public spaces have been forced to close. According to UNICEF, the air quality poses an immediate threat to the health of more than 11 million children under five in Punjab.
Health officials are sounding the alarm as hospitals fill up with patients suffering from respiratory issues, with a particular increase in children being admitted for treatment. Pakistan’s environment is no stranger to pollution, but experts are now warning that the worsening smog crisis in Lahore is no longer just a seasonal issue. In fact, pollution has worsened to the point where it persists even in the summer months, signalling a deeper, systemic environmental problem.
The authorities and environmental experts are calling for urgent reforms. With the smog blocking visibility and causing severe health problems, the situation is no longer something that can be brushed off as typical for South Asia.
"As smog continues to persist in Punjab province, I am extremely concerned about the well-being of young children who are forced to breathe polluted, toxic air," Pakistan Unicef representative Abdullah Fadil said in a statement issued in Islamabad.
(with ANI inputs)
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According to the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Lahore, on Tuesday, turned out to have the most polluted air in the world. At noon today the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore stood at 429 with one locality showing real time AQI reading of 720.
The ANI report adds that this severe air pollution is linked to a combination of factors, including agricultural practices like stubble burning, uncontrolled vehicle emissions, outdated industrial practices, and weak environmental regulations. The crisis has become so severe that schools and public spaces have been forced to close. According to UNICEF, the air quality poses an immediate threat to the health of more than 11 million children under five in Punjab.
Health officials are sounding the alarm as hospitals fill up with patients suffering from respiratory issues, with a particular increase in children being admitted for treatment. Pakistan’s environment is no stranger to pollution, but experts are now warning that the worsening smog crisis in Lahore is no longer just a seasonal issue. In fact, pollution has worsened to the point where it persists even in the summer months, signalling a deeper, systemic environmental problem.
The authorities and environmental experts are calling for urgent reforms. With the smog blocking visibility and causing severe health problems, the situation is no longer something that can be brushed off as typical for South Asia.
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(with ANI inputs)