Daily Times

After a four-day respite, Lahore, alongside other cities in Punjab, faces again the comeback of smog. The fifth season not only hazes the blue sky but also causes an escalating health crisis.

A report by civil society says that hospitals across the province have received over 1.9 million patients, with respiratory illnesses surging alarmingly. In just 14 days of November, over 700,000 people were diagnosed with lung diseases. The number is neither little not worth overlooking. It only highlights the gravity of the situation.

According to the Punjab health department, conditions like asthma, heart diseases and stroke have been on the rise in recent weeks. In October alone, 1.9 million people sought medical care for respiratory ailments. Lahore remains the epicenter of the crisis. Its hospitals reported 3,690 lung-related cases and 209 new asthma cases this week. The actual number is more than the reported one as several people go for self-medication and private clinics.

Global air quality rankings place Lahore as the world’s most polluted city, and this is just a new normal in our lives. On Saturday, Lahore had an AQI of 800, surpassing even New Delhi’s 624 AQI. In Lahore’s Gulberg area, where Daily Times office is located, the AQI reached an alarming 1,314, indicating hazardous air conditions. Other cities in Punjab, such as Multan, also grapple with severe pollution levels.

The government is doing its parts by launching a crackdown on environmental violations. In Lahore, authorities sealed shops, restaurants and open BBQ spots for breaching smog-related SOPs. Checkpoints at entry points like Thokar Niaz Beg and Saggian are screening vehicles for emissions. Over 1,250 vehicles have been inspected, and 128 non-compliant ones were seized.

Industrial emissions remain a significant contributor. Inspections by joint EPA-police teams have led to the sealing of factories emitting hazardous smoke. The government has also designated “Green Lockdown Areas” to implement intensive pollution control, including wet sweeping, water sprinkling, and monitoring of commercial generators.

The public must adopt preventive measures like wearing masks. The government calls the situation a ‘matter of life and death’. The government has mobilised all departments under its ‘Smog Multisectoral Action Plan’ to combat this environmental and public health emergency.

The situation can be controlled only through public and government’s joint war on smog. Without stricter enforcement and collective action, the health and environmental toll will only escalate. *