{"id":27183,"date":"2025-11-12T15:04:05","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/?p=27183"},"modified":"2025-11-12T15:04:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:04:05","slug":"lahore-chokes-as-smog-pushes-city-into-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/?p=27183","title":{"rendered":"Lahore chokes as smog pushes city into health crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
As Punjab faces yet another season of toxic air, the haze hanging over the province has become more than just a visual blight \u2013 it is a silent killer. Hospitals in Lahore are receiving thousands suffering with smog-related ailments as air pollution levels in the city continue to surge. Doctors warn that the situation has escalated into a full-blown health emergency.<\/p>\n

Lahore was ranked second among the world\u2019s most polluted cities, with its concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) averaging around 262 microgrammes per cubic metre \u2013 over 17 times higher than what the World Health Organisation considers safe.<\/p>\n

According to global air quality monitoring agency IQAir, Lahore\u2019s overall AQI was recorded at 318 on Wednesday, while certain localities reported readings between 647 and 855. However, since the provincial monitoring network cannot register readings above 500, experts suggest that the real concentration of pollutants may be significantly higher.<\/p>\n

Amid the thick blanket of smog that continues to suffocate the city, respiratory infections, eye irritation, asthma attacks, and cases of chest congestion have gripped the public, who are flocking to the city\u2019s hospitals for treatment.<\/p>\n

Read: Lahore ranks second among world\u2019s most polluted cities<\/p>\n

At the province\u2019s largest public healthcare facility, Lahore\u2019s Mayo Hospital, doctors have been placed on high alert. \u201cWe are seeing dozens of new cases daily of asthma exacerbations and acute respiratory infections caused by the smog,\u201d said Dr Fareed Ahmad, Senior Pulmonologist.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople must adopt strict precautionary measures and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, especially during the early mornings and evenings,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

Dr Ahmad also urged the public to \u201cuse face masks, keep windows closed, and drink plenty of fluids,\u201d as \u201cprevention is crucial right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though thousands are suffering, a rather sad observation was noted by Dr Saleem Us Zaman, Head of Pulmonology at a Lahore hospital, who stated that \u201cchildren are being hit hardest by the toxic air.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing healthy children coming in with severe coughing, wheezing and even early signs of heart strain,\u201d he said, adding that \u201csmog is no longer just an environmental issue, it’s a medical crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doctors warn that even healthy individuals remain at risk, as the air quality of Lahore worsens.<\/p>\n

Read More: Lahore tops Global Pollution Index; AQI reaches 985 in some areas<\/p>\n

Dr Hajra Khan at the Indus Hospital in Lahore warns that smokers, or those with already compromised immune systems, remain at a higher risk of contracting respiratory diseases due to the smog. However, she notes that the general public, regardless of age or immunity, must mask up and limit outdoor exposure as \u201ceveryone remains at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the immediate health toll, economists estimate that the smog also brings hidden economic losses through reduced worker productivity, medical expenses that are racking up, and lost school days.<\/p>\n

Experts blame multiple factors for the recurring smog crisis that grips Lahore \u2013 including unchecked vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and the large-scale burning of crops in nearby rural districts.<\/p>\n

The stagnant winter air and lack of wind prevent the pollutants from dispersing, trapping them close to the ground and forming a suffocating haze, explain experts.<\/p>\n

In regards to Lahore\u2019s PM2.5 levels, Environmental Researcher Prof Dr Mubawer Sabir said the levels \u201care not random spikes but are sustained, endangering every citizen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read Also: Punjab launches AI-based system to tackle smog and improve air quality<\/p>\n

Despite repeated government claims of action, enforcement remains inconsistent.<\/p>\n

The Punjab Environment Protection Department (PEPD), in its October 2025 report, noted a \u201cmarginal improvement\u201d in overall conditions due to ongoing government and community-driven anti-smog initiatives. Further, officials claim that over 140 smoke-emitting vehicles have been fined, 52 cases of stubble burning registered, and several industrial units sealed, with 21,983 citizens signing pledges under the Plastic-Free Punjab initiative.<\/p>\n

Further, the Punjab government has resorted to periodic school closures and has restricted outdoor activities in order to limit exposure, but doctors and environmental experts insist these are only temporary solutions.<\/p>\n

The overall air quality shows little improvement, however, leaving official claims largely unfounded and citizens frustrated. \u201cWe need sustained policy enforcement, cleaner transportation, and strict regulation of emissions, otherwise, the situation will worsen each year,\u201d warned Child Specialist Dr Ghulam Fareed.<\/p>\n

Officials from PEPD point to their \u201cGreen Punjab\u201d app for public complaints, but critics argue that such reactive measures fall short of addressing the root causes of the crisis, leaving cosmopolitan cities like Lahore at the mercy of worsening air but with no real measures to mitigate it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additional reporting by Shireen Qasim<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Punjab faces yet another season of toxic air, the haze hanging over the province has become more than just a visual blight \u2013 it is a silent killer. Hospitals in Lahore are receiving thousands suffering with smog-related ailments as air pollution levels in the city continue to surge. Doctors warn that the situation has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27183\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}