What happened: The provincial capital has been facing severe air pollution and smog wave, sending hundreds to hospitals because of sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection. Whereas, the citizens of Lahore have complained about severe headaches caused by the worsening air quality and are amazed at the deafening silence by the people at the helm of affairs. Why it matters: A senior doctor at Lahore’s private hospital revealed to this scribe that “Lahorites are suffering from the hazardous air quality, that has been deemed unbreathable, and the silence by policymakers is of concern.” The motorcyclists revealed to this scribe that traveling early in the morning is of greater concern, and “We are forced to leave our children at home, forcing them to take a day off from their educational institutions.” The provincial capital, Lahore, has been ranked as the most polluted city twice globally.
What you need to know: Pakistan has faced Covid and then came the dengue virus, which also targeted Lahore, and now the poor air quality in the provincial capital is forcing citizens to get hospitalized. At the same time, a publication quoted a Lahorite saying, “Every year we read in the news that Lahore is the most polluted city, but nothing happens and nobody cares.” The asthma patients of Lahore have been the most affected by the smog, facing severe breathing problems. The Air Quality in Lahore has been credited as hazardous by the health officials, and the citizens are urging the provincial government to take notice in this regard.