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Pakistan declares ‘health crisis’ after smog reaches record-high hazardous levels

19 Jan 2025

At A Glance

  • Pakistan’s Punjab province recorded extremely hazardous levels of smog with the Air Quality Index reaching as high as 1900-2000 in cities such as Lahore and Multan, leading Pakistan’s health authorities to declare a ‘health crisis’ on 15 November 2024.

  • Readers should note that authorities have imposed lockdowns and warned people to take additional precautions that limit their exposure to the toxic smog, while millions of people seek medical care.

  • Pakistani authorities have also appealed for diplomatic talks with neighbouring India suffering from the same health crisis to find a common solution.


What is happening in Pakistan?

Cities in the Punjab province of Pakistan have been reeling under a severe air pollution crisis since the start of November. Lahore, a city of close to 14 million people recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) readings as high as 1900, which is considerably higher than 300, the index value considered ‘hazardous’ by government agencies and medical organisations worldwide. On 8 November 2024, Multan, another city in Punjab recorded an AQI reading of 2000. Satellite images from space show Lahore completely enveloped in smog, and in neighbouring India, the capital city of Delhi is suffering from the same crisis, bringing visibility on roads to almost zero.


As cities continue to choke on smog, the Punjab administration has declared a ‘health crisis’ and set up a ‘smog war room’ to combat the pollution. The government has also imposed additional restrictions such as shutting down schools, banning outdoor events, and putting a halt on the work of major industries and factories. Pakistani authorities are considering measures such as inducing artificial rain to mitigate smog, an option they have explored in the past with support from the United Arab Emirates. According to Raja Jahangir Anwar, Punjab’s secretary for environment and climate change, the Government is also considering a complete lockdown in the worst affected areas, amongst more serious measures.


Concerns regarding air quality in Pakistan are, however, not new. Lahore has consistently ranked amongst the most polluted cities in the world with AQI frequently crossing the ‘hazardous’ benchmark, with the AQI reaching 529 as on 10 January 2025. Pakistani authorities have attributed the smog to the fires caused by stubble burning in India, although stubble burning is a common practice in Pakistan as well. The High Court of Lahore, however, identified heavy traffic emissions from the millions of vehicles as the main reason for the smog, amplified by heavy polluting industries in the city’s outskirts. Against the backdrop of the problem, Pakistan has appealed for ‘climate diplomacy’ with India at the upcoming COP31 summit, as both countries continue to face a similar pollution crisis every year.


What is in it for you?

Needless to say, exposure to toxic air is a health hazard for everyone. 14 million people in Lahore, and in cities such as Multan and across the border in Delhi, are living under a health hazard every day. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes air pollution as the ‘’single biggest environmental threat to human health’. The Human Rights Watch has reported that PM2.5, one of the deadliest pollutants often present in toxic air was found to peak at 601 micrograms per cubic metre in Lahore, more than 40 times what the WHO considers safe.


For readers living in Pakistan or India who are directly affected by the smog, the Pakistani authorities have assured that they are taking all measures to bring the crisis under control. Readers should be aware of the long-term risks posed by continuous exposure to toxic air and should be on the lookout for symptoms such as laboured breathing, chest pain and vision problems and should seek immediate medical treatment for these symptoms. Additional care should be taken by particularly vulnerable groups such as children, senior citizens and those who suffer from lung and heart problems. Masks and air purifiers can be used to limit exposure to toxins in the air, although the latter cannot be afforded by the vast majority of people in Lahore.


For those concerned about the rising levels of pollution across the globe spearheaded by rapid climate change, the recent smog crisis in Pakistan is only one of the many instances of degrading air quality across countries. Central Asia and South Asian countries regularly top the charts with the worst air quality across the globe. Exposure to harmful toxins considerably reduces the life expectancy of those living in affected areas, resulting in temporary mechanisms such as lockdowns, but it does not address the root cause of the problem. Hence, while temporarily shutting down the activity of factories may clear up smog, it is insufficient when it comes to tackling increased global warming. Concerned readers should keep an eye out for possible India-Pakistan bilateral talks as both countries work together to find a solution for the pollution crisis.


What happens next?

The public health crisis in Pakistan still continues as of January 2025. While Pakistani authorities have implemented all possible measures and restrictions to limit the spread of smog and control the pollution, cities like Lahore and Multan are still covered in a toxic haze. Nearly two million people in the Punjab province sought medical care for respiratory issues. In Lahore alone, more than 126,000 cases have been recorded, underlining the critical impact of hazardous air quality in the region.


A step forward towards finding a long-term solution for the annual pollution problem is the appeal by Pakistan for climate talks with India and the realisation that blame games would not lead towards finding actionable solutions. Acknowledging that regional cooperation is essential, Jahangir Anwar stated that "Eastern winds bring pollutants to Pakistan, while western winds carry them to India. This is a shared crisis that demands a unified response." Successful bilateral talks present the possibility of finding a common solution to a persistent problem faced by both countries.  From a strategic point of view, the climate talks, if initiated, can also be a chance for India and Pakistan to renew their diplomatic ties with a fresh perspective, which have historically remained tense, and pave the way for better regional cooperation.


The Polis team in London





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