In brief
In response to severe air pollution, authorities in Punjab, Pakistan, have mandated work-from-home orders and extended school closures, affecting millions in the region. The hazardous air quality has led to hospitalizations and urgent public health warnings.
In a dire response to unprecedented air pollution levels, authorities in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, have put in place emergency measures affecting close to 130 million residents. As Lahore, the province's largest city, grapples with intense smog, the government has instructed half the provincial workforce to stay at home and expanded school closures for an additional week.“This is a critical situation,” stated Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister. New initiatives designed to combat air quality degradation will impact over 70 million people in four divisions across Punjab. On Sunday, Lahore experienced an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) reading that surpassed 1,000, an unprecedented wariness prompting the closure of primary schools for one week.The city recorded another concerning AQI level of 1,165 on Wednesday, contributing to Lahore’s consistent reputation as one of the world’s most polluted urban areas. Last year, Pakistan was ranked among the countries with the most severe air pollution, according to IQAir, a Swiss environmental technology firm. The World Bank estimates that air pollution diminishes the life expectancy of Pakistanis by an average of 4.3 years, with economic repercussions amounting to nearly 6.5 percent of the national economy.With respiratory illnesses on the rise, Tuesday saw over 900 individuals admitted to hospitals, as Ms. Aurangzeb urged citizens to prioritize safety by remaining indoors. Additional protocols now recommend the wearing of face masks in public and have extended online learning mandates to include secondary schools through mid-November.In a bid to mitigate the crisis, local officials have implemented stringent vehicle restrictions, resulting in the confiscation of over 500 excess-polluting vehicles, while brick kilns identified as significant contributors to pollution have been dismantled. The Environment Protection Department of Punjab anticipates that the adverse air quality conditions could persist for at least another 10 days.
