Pakistan has declared a health emergency as Lahore's air quality hits alarming levels, affecting millions with respiratory issues. Authorities have implemented urgent measures, including school closures,

The crisis has prompted a flurry of responses from local authorities, as the country grapples with its most severe air pollution event in years. According to several Pakistani media reports the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority had declared smog a “calamity” and instituted emergency measures.

With smog intensity escalating in Lahore at the end of October, affecting its 13 million residents, the Punjab government imposed a “green lockdown” and set up a “smog war room.”

The average AQI of Lahore stood at 1300 on Thursday, making it the world's most polluted city for most of November 2024. Despite several measures by the government to curb air pollution, the city's AQI is gradually increasing every day.

An AQI reading of 1600 is considered extremely hazardous, posing a risk to everyone, even those in good health, and significantly increasing the risk of respiratory issues.

As air pollution crossed the red zone that prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to invoke the stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Atish

Punjab province in Pakistan, especially Multan, faced extreme smog, with AQI levels surpassing hazardous thresholds. (Photo: Reuters)