Lahore Chokes Under Toxic Smog, Tops Global Pollution Charts » Capital News

Dec 4 – Lahore, once hailed as the “City of Gardens,” now bears the grim title of the world’s most polluted city, with air quality reaching catastrophic levels. On Tuesday, areas like DHA Phase-5 and the US Consulate vicinity recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels of 459 and 433, respectively, according to Dawn.

Despite government claims of action, the city remains shrouded in hazardous smog, overwhelming hospitals with cases of respiratory illness. The crisis, driven by unchecked industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and crop residue burning, underscores Pakistan’s ineffective environmental policies.

The Punjab government has taken measures such as revoking route permits for faulty vehicles, sealing six brick kilns, and shutting down three industrial units. However, critics argue these efforts barely scratch the surface of the systemic issues fueling the smog. With the Meteorological Department ruling out immediate rainfall and wind speeds stagnating at just 6 km/h, the toxic air lingers, worsened by humidity levels of 81%.

Road sprinkling campaigns and restrictions on heavy vehicles have been initiated, alongside inspections of over 1,000 vehicles, resulting in 144 impoundments for engine faults. Yet, these piecemeal measures fall short of addressing the crisis, Dawn reports.

Senior Minister Marrium Aurangzeb’s statement that smog elimination will take “eight to ten years” has drawn sharp criticism for its lack of urgency. While she urged public cooperation, the plea has been perceived as deflecting attention from the administration’s failure to implement immediate, science-backed interventions.

The smog crisis reflects a broader pattern of neglect and poor governance in Pakistan. As Lahore battles one of its worst environmental disasters, Dawn warns that without decisive and coordinated action, the city risks permanent devastation from unchecked pollution and policy paralysis.

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