Lahore, the second-largest city of Pakistan held the top spot on a real-time list of the most polluted cities in the world, according to the data released by the provincial government and Swiss group IQAir. The city recorded an unprecedented high Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1900 recently. This has caused the authorities to take immediate measures as such dangerous pollution levels expose locals to severe health concerns.
As part of its emergency response plan to batter air pollution, the Lahore administration has issued work-from-home mandates and announced the closure of primary schools in various cities.
The government has shut primary schools for a week, advising parents to ensure children wear masks, Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb said during a press conference, as a thick blanket of smog enveloped the city.
To reduce vehicle pollution, 50% of office employees would work from home, said Aurangzeb.
Lahore records highest air pollution level ever
The government in Pakistan has also issued an advisory urging people to stay indoors, keep doors and windows shut, and avoid travel and going out of the house unless necessary. All the hospitals have also been given smog counters and asked to prepare for exigencies, according to Reuters.
The government has also imposed a ban on three-wheelers known as rickshaws and halted construction in certain areas to reduce pollution levels. The directive has been sent to factories and construction sites with an order of compliance and a warning that failing to do so might lead to shut down of the entity.
Pakistan blames India for high AQI
Senior Punjab Minister Aurangzeb described the air pollution situation as “unexpected” and said the rising detrimental pollution levels can be attributed to winds carrying pollution from neighbouring India.
“This cannot be solved without talks with India,” she said, adding the provincial government would initiate talks with its bigger neighbour through Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
The smog crisis in Lahore, similar to the situation in India’s capital Delhi, tends to worsen during cooler months due to temperature inversion trapping pollution closer to the ground.
