What happened: The provincial capital has again topped the ranking of the most polluted city on the 4th of December. As the environmental lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam puts it, “Air pollution in Lahore is nothing but a government failure.” The local government claims, “We have sealed over 500 industrial units and imposed heavy fines on smoke emitting vehicles,” in a bid to control the air pollution. The air quality index in Lahore has been deemed as hazardous as the citizens report smog-related diseases. Details: Health officials and the environmental lawyer have credited the current situation of Lahore as a health emergency. Pakistan is also among the ten most climate change vulnerable countries, as the country fights air pollution in Lahore. The air quality index of Lahore on the 3rd of December was recorded at 325, leaving Delhi behind.
What you need to know: Various international flights and the motorway were also barred for the citizens of Lahore on Saturday as the city topped the ranking of the most polluted city. At the same time, LHC had also hinted at a one-week lockdown amid the rise of air pollution in the provincial capital. Whereas, a media outlet reported that spending 24-hours in Lahore is equal to smoking 19 cigarettes a day. Rafay Alam had also said that the life expectancy, especially of children, decreases by five years due to the increase in pollution.