In the bustling city of Lahore, home to 14 million people near the India-Pakistan border, a suffocating smog season is wreaking havoc. Known for its culture and history, Lahore has become infamous for another reason: dangerously high pollution levels. This month, the city hit record-breaking smog, placing it among the world’s most polluted cities. The health risks are escalating, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) skyrocketing over 1,000 and even exceeding 2,000 in cities like Multan.ar dapibus leo.
To protect young lives, schools across major cities in Punjab, where Lahore is the capital, have been closed until November 17. Rafia Iqbal, a teacher, highlights the impact on children: “They’re constantly coughing and falling sick.” Her husband, Muhammad Safdar, echoes the sentiment, saying, “The pollution is making daily life impossible.”
For many families, air purifiers are unaffordable, with prices starting around $90 plus ongoing costs for replacement filters. As a result, residents like Safdar and Iqbal resort to makeshift methods, keeping their children confined to one room in an effort to minimize exposure.
To curb pollution, authorities have closed access to public parks, historical sites, playgrounds, and zoos until November 17. Tuk-tuks with polluting two-stroke engines, and unfiltered barbecues are banned in areas most affected. But residents feel the measures are too little, too late. “This is a yearly issue,” Safdar says, frustrated with the lack of preventive actions.
The root of the crisis lies in emissions from low-grade fuels used by factories and vehicles, coupled with agricultural stubble burning. These pollutants are trapped by colder temperatures and still winds, forming a toxic fog over Lahore each winter. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that air pollution can lead to strokes, lung disease, and other severe health issues. Children, the elderly, and the poor are most at risk.
Doctor Qurat ul Ain, a seasoned ER doctor in Lahore, reports an increase in patients with respiratory issues, especially among children, seniors, and motorbike riders who breathe in toxic air during their daily commutes. Meanwhile, Dr. Alia Haider, a climate activist, stresses the importance of raising awareness, particularly in poorer neighborhoods where pollution is constant. “We’re stuck in our own poison,” she says. “It’s like a cloud of gas over the city.”
The people of Lahore are calling for change, yearning for cleaner air and a future free from the annual onslaught of toxic smog.
