LAHORE – Lahore citizens are complaining of breathing difficulties and irritable eyes as a blanket of thick smog was forecast to persist for several days. Readings of dangerous fine particulate matter were more than four times the World Health Organisation’s recommended level, exceeding 104 micograms per cubic metre of in the worst-hit parts of Lahore of around 10 million. Visibility plunged to less than 20 metres and citizens wore face masks to help with breathing. A senior official of Environment Protection Agency Nasimur Rehman blamed the pollution on less-than-average rainfall over the Punjab region, traffic standing still through various points of the city, and tyre-burning factories located to the city’s north. “The smog has been going on since yesterday and I had to take the day off work today because my eyes have gone red,” Kashif Hussain, a34-year-old cattle market worker told news agency. “It’s been very severe and I was prescribed drops by my doctor,” he said. “Toxic smog blanketing Lahore, air quality deplorable,” tweeted by resident Sabrina Toppa. So-called fine particulate matters are particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller produced by combustion, and some industrial processes. They are linked to eye-irritation, coughing, asthma and even heart attacks as well as premature death.A United Nations last week reported some 300 million children live with outdoor air so polluted it can cause serious physical damage, with the situation most acute in South Asia. “Pollutants don’t only harm children’s developing lungs. They can actually cross the blood-brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains and, thus, their futures,” said Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF. – Smog claims 17 lives in Punjab – Atleast 17 people have been killed in different smog-related incidents in Punjab, while the polluted haze has also resulted in outbreak of diseases in several cities of Punjab.At least two people were killed and five injured on Friday when two truck collided near Harrappa, Sahiwal. The prevailing smog in Punjab has been causing enough difficulties to the citizen, as they complain of breathing issue, throat infection and pneumonia. An increase in number of patients is being observed at hospitals, with particularly young and elderly people in majority among them. During last 12 hours, as many as 1,200 patients visited hospitals due to smog-related emergencies. In Jinnah Hospital, 130 children and 30 senior citizens were brought to hospital’s emergency.