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Lahore, known as the city of gardens, is now suffocating due to smog, which is having devastating effects on the health of children.
Anusha Ghazi, a class 8 student in Lahore, recently suffered from coughing and breathing problems due to the city’s worsening smog. Her condition, which requires medical attention, illustrates the serious impact of Lahore’s dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) on children. As a young environmental activist, Anusha is urging authorities to address the crisis, stressing that clean air is a constitutional right that must be upheld for the health and safety of all citizens.
Surprising statisticsAccording to the Health Department data till November 13, Lahore region has seen a significant increase in smog-related diseases in November 2024. On November 13, the city recorded 5,538 new cases of respiratory diseases, 291 cases of asthma, 3 cases. cases of ischemic heart disease, 14 cases of stroke and 206 cases of conjunctivitis. In the last week, there were 33,524 cases of respiratory disease, 1,857 cases of asthma, 188 cases of ischemic heart disease, 212 cases of stroke and 663 cases of conjunctivitis.
The data also shows that 131,368 cases of respiratory disease, 5,129 cases of asthma, 5,254 cases of heart disease, 464 cases of stroke, and 1,379 cases of conjunctivitis were reported in Lahore during October-November.
Worsening trends
Analyzing the data for Punjab and Lahore region during October 2024 compared to July-September 2024 for Punjab, we observed that the total incidence of diseases increased from 4.99 to 5.30 per 10,000 population, with The rate of acute upper respiratory infections increased significantly. (AURI), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke. Conjunctivitis decreased slightly.
Similarly, the incidence of daily diseases increased from 2.71 to 3.12 per 10,000 people in Lahore, with increased rates of AURI, IHD and stroke, while the incidence of conjunctivitis remained unchanged. These trends indicate a severe health impact of smog during October, with most disease categories showing significant increases in incidence.
UNICEF warning
UNICEF has issued a dire warning regarding the health risks facing children in Punjab, stressing that more than 11 million children under the age of five are exposed to toxic air. Abdullah Fadal, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat air pollution and protect the health of vulnerable children. “The air pollution crisis is a silent killer that threatens the lives and future of our children. We must prioritize their health by tackling the sources of pollution and implementing effective policies,” he said.
According to IQAir.com, smog levels reached alarming levels in Lahore and Multan, crossing the Air Quality Index of 1,900 on November 10. The level of extreme pollution is well above the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour limit of 35 µg/m³. An average of PM2.5 and 50 µg/m³ for PM10, which have been established to protect public health.
Before these extreme conditions, around 12 percent of all under-five deaths in Pakistan were due to air pollution. The current crisis has disrupted the education of about 16 million children due to school closures aimed at reducing exposure to smog. UNICEF warns that the long-term effects of such pollution can adversely affect cognitive development and overall health in affected children.
Health care system
Dr. Zaheer Akhtar, a physician at a government hospital in Lahore, says exposure to smog is particularly harmful to vulnerable groups such as children, women and the elderly. “A day of heavy smog is equivalent to smoking 30 to 50 cigarettes,” he says. Patients with no underlying conditions are now presenting with conjunctivitis, sore throats and bronchitis. People with pre-existing conditions such as COPD and asthma tend to decline faster, requiring longer hospital stays and oxygen support.
To cope with the rising number of cases, government hospitals have expanded their capacity, adding more beds equipped with oxygen and nebulization facilities. “We have also increased the use of antibiotics to manage chest infections that commonly accompany smog-related illnesses,” says Dr. Akhtar. Despite these efforts, the burden on health care facilities continues to increase as smog remains a constant threat.
Lawyer Rafi Alam says, “Several hundred children died of pneumonia in Punjab last January.” “In early November we had tens of thousands of people hospitalized in Punjab during the Brown Haze event. Air pollution results in death and loss of life expectancy in both humans and animals.
The culprit is a deadly cocktail of industrial emissions, vehicle fumes and agricultural burning that has poisoned the air. “It’s not just a Lahore problem and it’s not seasonal,” says Alam, “it’s a regional problem, from Kabul to Calcutta, and a year-round public health emergency.”
Remedial efforts.
Sajid Bashir, Communications Head of Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency, acknowledges the crisis. He also highlighted the recent government efforts. “EPA has taken concrete steps to improve air quality in Punjab by ensuring installation of Emission Control System (ECS) in industrial units, converting brick kilns to zigzag technology and banning substandard fuel. ” he says.
Bashir pointed out several initiatives, including the Climate Resilient Punjab Vision Action Plan 2024, Punjab Clean Air Policy (with Phased Action Plan) 2023, and Smog (Prevention and Control) Rules 2023. “The efforts of EPA-Punjab have reduced the concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) to 41.25% compared to last year. This is due to elimination of substandard fuel, installation of ECS in industries, zigzag brick kilns. And made possible by fugitive dust control.
The way forward
However, Alam says meaningful progress will require long-term, multi-pronged solutions. “Fixing air pollution requires time, money and political will to build on civil society’s vision of a clean air future that is sustainable beyond the five-year election cycle,” he says. are
Alam outlined a comprehensive agenda for reform: “We need to upgrade our (oil) refineries to produce Euro 6 fuel. Paris to transition to 60 percent renewable energy production by 2030 meet its commitments under the agreement; bring industrial emissions under control by introducing and promoting clean production measures; invest in public transport and electric vehicle fleets (especially 2- and 3-wheelers and public transport).
Scholars also emphasize the need to change the way cities are designed to curb incineration, improve emissions from brick kilns and reduce dependence on the automobile. “We need to increase the use of natural gas for domestic use so that people don’t burn wood or plastic in their stoves. All this has to happen at the same time, over years. Then, maybe in a decade, we will have air quality. I can see a 40-50 percent improvement.”
Allegation of division
Smog is driven by many factors. According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture Department (R-SMOG-Report) in 2018, crop residue burning was practiced by 44 percent of farmers, especially non-farmers. Cultivation of basmati rice has increased significantly over the last 16-30 years, with 23 percent of farmers reporting an increase in the practice. Industrial and vehicular emissions account for the largest share, with the transport sector accounting for 43 percent and the industrial sector accounting for 25 percent of total air pollution emissions in Punjab. Agriculture, particularly the burning of crop residues, adds 20 percent to these emissions.
Additionally, climatic conditions play an important role, with 65 percent of aerosol sources originating within Pakistan, matching weather patterns that trap pollutants. Transboundary pollution, particularly from crop burning in Indian Punjab, increases smog intensity in the region.
What role can the common citizen play? “To be honest, very little,” says Alam. “You can, you know, do things on an individual level to protect yourself. So like wear a mask, limit outdoor activities, and stay indoors if you have to.” Run an air purifier.
Zara Aqib, a housewife from Lahore, narrates her experience. “My husband and father-in-law have field jobs. They suffer from respiratory problems and dry skin. They also experience eye irritation.”
She mentions the precautions she is taking in her home. “Wearing masks is mandatory in my house. I make sure we stay indoors and minimize our exposure to smog. We keep our doors and windows closed and make sure we stay hydrated.
Syeda Zainab, a pre-9 student at a private school in Lahore, has first-hand experience of the effects of smog. “The smog has affected my daily routine,” she says. I can’t go out. We have to close all the windows and the smog delays our daily outdoor activities.
Zainab also mentioned the damage to her studies. “Smog has a big impact on studies. I have missed many classes during the restrictions imposed by the government. Online classes are not as effective. Going to school on days with high levels of smog, significantly reduced vision. Ai and many of my classmates fell ill.
Lahore is often reported as the most polluted city globally, highlighting the urgent need for effective air quality management and public health interventions.
As smog shows no signs of abating, children in Punjab continue to suffer from this public health threat.
The author is a tech enthusiast and climate justice advocate. He can be contacted at muhammadtalaljokhio@gmail.com or X: @muhammadtalalj
