Lahore, November 2, 2024 — The Europe Today: According to the correspondent of the News Hub Consultants, Punjab’s capital, Lahore, once again topped the global pollution charts on Saturday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked to hazardous levels, recording a staggering 1,067 on the Swiss air quality watchdog’s real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities. By 9:30 a.m., thick smog blanketed the city, reducing visibility to near zero and bringing life to a standstill.
Lahore faces this air quality crisis each winter as plummeting temperatures trap pollutants — from vehicle emissions and construction dust to smoke from seasonal crop burning on the city’s outskirts. This toxic mix of pollutants, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO), raises the risk of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory ailments for millions of residents. Citizens, especially those working outdoors, have reported health issues, including breathing difficulties, coughing, and burning eyes. “It’s been tough to breathe, and I’ve fallen sick twice this month. We can’t work effectively or go out without masks,” said Mohammad Saad, a 30-year-old Lahore resident.
Despite the AQI slightly improving to 702 by 10:30 a.m., Lahore remained at the top of the pollution index, with experts predicting that smog intensity will likely persist for the next 48 hours. They attribute part of the pollution to smoke-laden air drifting in from New Delhi.
In response to the severe conditions, Punjab authorities have implemented a “Green Lockdown” in Lahore’s most polluted zones to reduce smog levels.
