Pakistan Punjab Smog: According to the provincial health department, nearly two million cases of respiratory illness have been reported in hospitals last month in addition to asthma, chest infections, eye infections and cardiovascular problems. Smog due to toxic pollutants has engulfed many cities of Punjab.

Pollution in Pakistan: Pakistan was still struggling with economic crisis. But now the people there have to fight a battle of breath. Punjab province's senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said the government has declared the smog a "health crisis" as lakhs of people were reported suffering from breathing problems and other breathing problems last month. A "health emergency" has been declared in Lahore and Multan districts to cope with the smog that has enveloped the province for the past few weeks.

People had to face problems

Nearly two million cases of respiratory illness, in addition to asthma, chest infections, eye infections and heart-related problems, were reported to hospitals last month, according to the provincial health department. Smog due to toxic pollutants has engulfed many cities of Punjab. Lahore and Multan are the most affected due to this. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Multan has crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record of air pollution.

Wildest cases in October

The data showed that 19,34,030 cases were reported from the entire province in October, of which Lahore alone reported 12,62,30 cases. It also revealed that more than 5,000 patients suffered strokes in Punjab province in October. "The highest air quality index recorded in Lahore was 2591 with 2188 readings at Syed Maratib Ali Road, 2155 at Pakistan Engineering Services and 1704 at Ghazi Road Interchange. The average air quality index in Lahore is 1460.

WWF sends letter to Nawaz

Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Pakistan has sent a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting him to declare a "national emergency" to deal with the grave crisis. WWF Pakistan said in X Post, "The future of our children is suffocating. They are demanding the right to breathe, learn and play. What do we have to do? Pakistan has written to the Prime Minister seeking urgent measures to stop the smog emergency.

There have been calls to shut down polluting industries and remove high-emission vehicles from roads to help ease the current crisis. WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said the government should take immediate, bold and decisive steps to deal with the emergency.