Satellite imagery indicates that the smog in Pakistan is visible from space, as the nation confronts unprecedented levels of air pollution.
Images obtained from NASA Worldview illustrate the eastern part of the country shrouded in a noxious fog, with the smog extending into the northern regions of India and New Delhi.
Lahore, the capital city of Pakistan’s Punjab province and home to 14 million residents, recorded an air quality index exceeding 400 on Tuesday morning, as reported by IQAir, a global air quality monitoring service.
Any score above 300 is categorized as hazardous, while a score between 0 and 50 is regarded as good.
Earlier this month in November, certain areas of Lahore reported an index soaring past 1,900, setting a new record.
No smog was detected in Punjab on October 10, 2024.
Pic: NASA Worldview
IQAir also noted on Tuesday that the levels of PM2.5—microscopic particles that infiltrate the bloodstream via the lungs and can lead to cancer—were over 50 times higher than the recommended safety standards in Lahore.
The eastern Pakistani city frequently ranks among the most polluted places globally.
Over 40,000 individuals have received treatment for respiratory conditions as a result of the smog.
Pic: Reuters
Authorities in the region have prohibited most outdoor activities, mandated early closure for shops, and suspended classes and public gatherings until November 17 due to the air pollution crisis.
Healthcare officials reported that more than 40,000 individuals have been treated for respiratory problems, while local hospitals are witnessing an unprecedented increase in cases of eye and throat irritation, as well as conjunctivitis.
Earlier in November, certain areas of Lahore experienced an air quality index exceeding 1,900, which was a record high.
Pic: Reuters
This situation arises as a UN agency cautioned that the health of 11 million children in the Punjab region is endangered if effective measures are not implemented to combat the hazardous smog.
Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF’s representative in the country, stated: “Before these unprecedented levels of air pollution, approximately 12% of fatalities in children under five in Pakistan were attributable to air pollution.”
“Assessing the impact of this year’s severe smog will require time, but we are aware that increasing the pollution levels in the air significantly will have catastrophic consequences, especially for children and expectant mothers.”
Several nations in South Asia are enveloped by smog each winter, as the cold air captures dust, pollutants, and smoke from agricultural fires.
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Regions of India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh were compelled to shut down schools and businesses last November due to air pollution.
A month afterwards, artificial rain was implemented in Lahore to combat the perilous smog for the first time.
