Record levels of air pollution were recorded on the night from Friday to Saturday in the city of Lahore in eastern Pakistan, with a population of 14 million. Due to the persistent smog, sports classes at schools will not take place outdoors, residents are banned from using motorized rickshaws, and construction works have been suspended.
The AQI air pollution index in Lahore reached 1,067 on the night from Friday to Saturday, and then dropped to 300 in the morning, AFP reported, citing local authorities.
“We have never reached the 1,000 mark before,” said Jahangir Anwar, a senior environmental official at the local government. He added that the concentration of PM2.5 dust pollution on Saturday was 80 times higher than the level considered acceptable by the World Health Organization. The WHO defines air as poor at levels above 180.
Smog in LahoreEPA/RAHAT DAR
The official announced that smog will continue in the city for the next three or four days. The causes of air pollution are the low quality of exhaust gases, the burning of stubbles controlled by farmers for new crops, and the cooling of the air, including the wind coming from Punjab, an Indian state bordering Pakistan.
Smog safety measures
The authorities decided to cancel all outdoor sports activities in schools for three months. Residents have been banned from using motorized rickshaws, construction work has been suspended, and street vendors who cook on open fires must close at 8 p.m. From Monday, half of employees in public and private companies will switch to remote work.
Smog in LahorePAP/EPA/A. HUSSAIN
High air pollution was also reported in Beijing, Delhi and Kolkata on Saturday. IN Warsaw the AQI was 24.
An AQI of 0-50 is considered good, while pollution between 400-500 has a very negative impact on healthy people and poses a high risk to people struggling with diseases. A value above 800 is considered fatal.
Main photo source: EPA/RAHAT DAR