LAHORE: Pakistan is battling the worst air pollution as the air quality in two major cities of Punjab—Multan and Lahore—dropped to the worst levels on earth, with alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of 849 and 449, respectively, on Saturday.
According to the global pollution website IQAir, pollution levels in Multan were 100.1 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limit.
In Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, pollution levels were 60 times higher than what is considered safe by health standards.
Top Eight polluted cities of Pakistan
AQI: How Pollution is Measured
An AQI below 50 is considered “Good,” between 51 and 100 is “Moderate,” 101 to 150 is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” 151 to 200 is “Unhealthy,” 201 to 300 is “Very Unhealthy,” and 301 and above is classified as “Hazardous.”
Punjab Government Preventive Measures
In order to combat the alarming situation, the Punjab government has adopted several measures, including imposing a green lockdown and shutting down public places and schools in smog-hit cities to protect citizens from exposure to toxic air.
On Friday, the Punjab government barred the public from entering parks, zoos, playgrounds, and museums, while on Wednesday, the government closed all public and private schools in 18 districts of the province for ten days.
The ban applies to the following districts: Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, and Khanewal.
Pakistan has stated that pollution from neighbouring India is a contributing factor to the deteriorating air quality in Punjab. Last month, Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said, ‘India is responsible for 30 percent of the smog, while the rest is due to our own actions.
Pollution Poses Health Risks
UNICEF reports that nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, with half of all childhood pneumonia deaths linked to it.
According to UNICEF, every year, air pollution is estimated to cause the deaths of 130,000 children under the age of 5 in South Asia.
According to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute report, compiled by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the poor air has shortened the lives of Lahore residents by 7.5 years.
Another report in Chicago says that fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person.
