Record-Smashing Pollution in Punjab, Pakistan: Hundreds Hospitalized as Smog Strikes Region

The province of Punjab, home to 130 million people, is grappling with a severe air pollution crisis as record-breaking smog continues to choke the region. Authorities have instructed half of the province’s workforce to stay at home and extended school closures for an additional week to manage the worsening conditions.

“This is a critical situation,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in Punjab, during a news conference on Wednesday. The new measures, aimed at tackling the growing smog, will impact over 70 million people in four divisions of the province, which includes Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city.

Lahore, with a population of 13 million, recorded an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 1,000 on Sunday morning, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. The AQI, which is considered hazardous when above 301, indicates dangerous levels of pollution that can cause severe eye and throat irritation and aggravate heart and lung conditions. Anything above 500 on the AQI scale is considered “off the charts,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On Sunday, Lahore saw its first-ever AQI exceeding 1,000, prompting immediate action, including the closure of all primary schools for a week. By Wednesday, the city recorded an AQI reading of 1,165, continuing to surpass the critical threshold.

Lahore regularly ranks as one of the world’s most polluted cities. In fact, last year, IQAir listed Pakistan among the four countries with the worst air pollution. The World Bank has highlighted the severe impact of this pollution, noting that it shortens the average life expectancy of Pakistanis by 4.3 years and results in economic losses equivalent to approximately 6.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

The smog has overwhelmed the healthcare system in the region, with more than 900 people hospitalized for respiratory issues on Tuesday alone. Ms. Aurangzeb urged residents, “If you don’t want to become one of them, for God’s sake, stay at home.”

In response to the deteriorating air quality, additional measures have been put in place. Residents are advised to wear face masks in public spaces until the end of January, and schools up to 12th grade have been switched to online learning until November 17.

To further curb pollution, authorities have implemented strict measures such as directing half of the workers in Lahore to work from home and urging residents to stay indoors. The Punjab Police also announced that they had impounded 521 vehicles for excessively polluting the air. Additionally, 12 brick kilns were demolished as part of the government’s anti-smog campaign.

The poor air quality is expected to persist for at least another 10 days, Ms. Aurangzeb confirmed, as authorities work to combat the smog crisis.