Punjab Declares Health Emergency as Smog Worsens

A health emergency has been declared in Punjab, eastern Pakistan due to severe air pollution, with Lahore registering an air quality index (AQI) over 600, more than double the hazardous threshold. Nearly 70,000 people are visiting hospitals daily with respiratory issues, marking a crisis more significant than COVID-19. Authorities have implemented strict lockdown measures, including closing schools, restaurants, and construction sites in Lahore and Multan, and suspending medical staff leave. The smog, exacerbated by vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and crop-burning, is also affecting neighboring northern India, where it has obscured landmarks like the Taj Mahal in Agra. In New Delhi, pollution levels have caused significant visibility issues, affecting air travel and health, with the city's air quality expected to remain poor. Both regions are grappling with the severe health impacts of smog, which has been labeled a national disaster in Pakistan.