Lahore. In satellite photos taken by the American space agency NASA, poisonous smoke can be clearly seen over Pakistani cities like Lahore, Islamabad and Multan. According to media reports, the cities of Lahore and Multan were wrapped in a blanket of black smog, which has engulfed roads and made it difficult to see buildings from space. According to Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, the air in Lahore on Tuesday was the most polluted in the world. The air quality index (AQI) in Lahore was 429 in the afternoon, while the real-time AIQ reading in one area was 720. UNICEF has issued a warning regarding air quality in Pakistan, saying that highly polluted air in Punjab is posing a serious threat to people, including more than 11 million children under the age of five. According to experts, the pollution has caused authorities in Pakistan to close schools and public places, as the smog threatens the health of millions of people. Experts said severe pollution in Lahore can no longer be dismissed as seasonal, as hazardous smog persists even in the summer months, indicating systemic environmental mismanagement. The crisis stems not only from stubble burning but also from uncontrolled vehicle emissions, outdated industrial practices and ineffective environmental monitoring.
UNICEF warns on air quality
UNICEF’s warning said that hundreds of people, including dozens of children, are badly affected by pollution. Pollution is so severe that it can even be seen from space. Pakistan UNICEF representative Abdullah Fadil said that smog still persists in Punjab province, so I am concerned about the health of small children who are forced to breathe polluted, poisonous air.