Punjab Air Pollution Reaches Alarming Levels
Punjab air pollution has reached alarming levels across the province’s five major cities, including the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, triggering a sharp rise in respiratory disease, asthma, sore throats, eye irritation, colds and coughs. More than 2,900 patients with smog-related complaints visited hospitals in Rawalpindi alone in the past 48 hours.
Outpatient departments and emergency wards at Rawalpindi’s three allied hospitals treated 2,961 patients suffering from diseases linked to smog and air pollution over two days. A majority of them were elderly men and women.
Hospitals report a sharp rise in patients
The scale of the health impact is now visible in hospital wards. Patients arrived with breathing trouble, eye irritation and persistent coughs, the kinds of complaints that follow heavy smog. Doctors have advised people, especially children and patients with respiratory disease, to stay indoors unless necessary.
Medical experts and the health department have issued guidelines for the smog season. People should wear masks regularly, wash their eyes with clean water, and use eye drops only on a doctor’s advice. Doors and windows should stay shut in the morning and evening to keep polluted air out of homes.
Punjab air pollution: city by city
The air quality index (AQI) readings show how bad the air has become across Punjab. Lahore, the provincial capital, recorded an AQI of 530. Multan recorded an extremely alarming 719. Gujranwala’s index stood between 600 and 660, and Jhang reached 678. Faisalabad recorded 371. In the twin cities, Islamabad stood at 187 and Rawalpindi at 179. Even Murree, known as the Queen of Hills, crossed 123.
| City | Air quality index |
|---|---|
| Multan | 719 |
| Jhang | 678 |
| Gujranwala | 600-660 |
| Lahore | 530 |
| Faisalabad | 371 |
| Islamabad | 187 |
| Rawalpindi | 179 |
| Murree | 123 |
Lahore, Multan, Jhang and Gujranwala are now counted among the most polluted cities in the world. With no rainfall expected over the next three days, from Saturday to Monday, the indices are likely to get worse.
What is driving the smog
The Environmental Protection Department in Rawalpindi blames a mix of sources. Brick kilns, stone-crushing machines, smoke-emitting vehicles, the burning of crop residue, the burning of old tyres to extract black oil, and smoke from factories, industrial units and large bakeries are all feeding the pollution. Smoke-emitting vehicles are among the most dangerous sources.
The problem is not new. Lahore’s air pollution is a year-round problem, a recent report found, and air pollution costs Pakistan 6.5 per cent of its GDP in lost health and productivity. Lahore’s fire hotspots jumped 15 per cent as smog built up, adding to the smoke. Across the border, Delhi’s toxic air reached 30 times the WHO limit, showing that the whole region is breathing the same poisoned air.
Crackdown begins on Saturday
Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir has ordered strict action. Cases will be registered at once against anyone setting fire to garbage, old tyres, scrap material or crop residue. He has also ordered the bulldozing of all brick kilns operating without environment-friendly technology.
A major crackdown against smoke-emitting vehicles, factories, industrial units and brick kilns begins on Saturday. Whether it brings the AQI down will depend on enforcement, and on whether the rain that the province needs finally arrives.
Which Punjab city has the worst air quality?
Multan recorded the worst air quality in Punjab with an AQI of 719, followed by Jhang at 678 and Gujranwala between 600 and 660. Lahore recorded 530.
How many patients visited Rawalpindi hospitals?
A total of 2,961 patients with respiratory and eye-related complaints visited Rawalpindi’s three allied hospitals in the past 48 hours. Most of them were elderly.
What causes smog in Punjab?
Brick kilns, stone-crushing machines, smoke-emitting vehicles, crop residue burning, the burning of old tyres for black oil, and smoke from factories, industrial units and large bakeries are the main causes.
What should people do during smog?
Wear masks, keep children and respiratory patients indoors, wash eyes with clean water, use eye drops only on a doctor’s advice, and keep doors and windows closed in the morning and evening.
