ছবি: Due to air pollution, people experience burning sensations in their eyes and throats when going outside.
Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, is enveloped in dense, toxic air pollution so severe that it is visible from space. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) score soared past 1200 on Monday, an unprecedented level. The thick haze has led to eye and throat irritation for people walking outside, with nearly 900 people already hospitalized and thousands more seeking medical care.
NASA's Worldview satellite images, analyzed by CNN, reveal that the smog blanketing Punjab province is dense enough to be seen from space. Images from last week showed Lahore and other cities like Multan shrouded in dark haze, obscuring roads and buildings. Officials in Lahore described the current pollution levels as unprecedented, despite South Asian cities like Lahore being heavily impacted by air pollution annually.
According to IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality monitoring company, Lahore’s AQI peaked over 1200 on Monday and slightly dropped to 710 on Tuesday. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered unhealthy, 201 to 300 is classified as very unhealthy, and any score above 300 is deemed hazardous.
Residents report burning sensations in their eyes and throats when outdoors. Many struggle to protect themselves indoors as toxic particles seep through windows and doors, with few able to afford air purifiers. To shield children from the smog, authorities have closed schools in Lahore and several other cities across Punjab until November 17.
According to the Associated Press, hospitals and clinics in Punjab are overwhelmed by patients affected by polluted air. Health officials report treating over 30,000 people for respiratory issues in the smog-hit districts, including asthma, heart problems, and lung diseases, with children being especially vulnerable. The United Nations’ children's agency UNICEF has also warned that over 11 million children under the age of five are at high risk in these areas.
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