The smog crisis in Lahore has escalated to critical levels, placing it at the top of the world’s most polluted cities. The Lahore High Court has stepped in, mandating that all markets close by 8 PM across Punjab and remain shut on Sundays to combat pollution levels.
Further restrictions include a ban on trucks and trailers within city limits, alongside hefty fines for non-compliant buses, as heavy traffic emissions have been identified as a major pollution source. With Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching an alarming 923 and Askari 10 hitting 1,206, over 1.9 million people across Punjab are affected, with respiratory issues rising sharply.
Schools in Lahore have been temporarily closed, though work-from-home measures and mask mandates remain inconsistently enforced. Surrounding areas, including Sharaqpur, Mailsi, Pattoki, and Sheikhupura, are also under a thick layer of smog, impacting vulnerable groups like the elderly and children. In Khanewal, daily life has been paralyzed, with action underway against polluting industrial units.