Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is calling for urgent cross-border cooperation to combat the growing smog crisis and its impact on public health.
With Lahore’s air quality in steady decline, Maryam Nawaz highlighted that smog is a humanitarian challenge, not a political one, and stressed the need for collaboration with Indian Punjab.
Speaking at an event in Lahore, she shared her intention to reach out to her Indian counterpart to advance “smog diplomacy.” The worsening air quality has already led to more cases of burning eyes, throat irritation, and respiratory issues among residents.
Maryam Nawaz warned that without a united approach, addressing the severe smog affecting both regions would remain a difficult task. Despite strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan since 2019, she emphasized that combating air pollution demands cooperation that rises above political divides.
Air pollution tends to spike in the cooler months as temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground, resulting in a surge of respiratory cases and overcrowded hospitals. Lahore, along with Delhi, consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities.
