Hazardous Air Quality: Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, experienced unprecedented air pollution levels over the weekend, topping global pollution rankings.
Emergency Measures: Authorities implemented emergency measures, including closing primary schools for a week, mandating work-from-home for 50% of office employees, and banning rickshaws to curb vehicular pollution.
Health Advisory: Citizens were urged to stay indoors, minimize travel, and wear masks when outdoors. Hospitals were equipped with smog counters to monitor pollution levels.
Construction Halted: Construction activities in certain areas were also halted to mitigate pollution. Factories and construction sites face potential closure for non-compliance with regulations.
Blame on Transboundary Pollution: Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb attributed the severe smog to winds carrying pollution from neighboring India, calling for bilateral talks to address the issue.
Seasonal Smog: Like Delhi, Lahore experiences worsened smog during cooler months due to temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the ground.