NASA Shares Image Highlighting Punjab’s Smog Crisis1
Punjab is grappling with a severe smog crisis, prompting NASA to release alarming satellite images showing the region engulfed in a vast cloud of pollution. The imagery from NASA’s Worldview reveals a dense layer of toxic grey smog blanketing Punjab, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
In response, the Punjab government has declared an emergency in Lahore and other affected cities, implementing urgent measures to combat the worsening air quality. The visible smog cloud from space underscores extreme pollution levels, prompting officials to order the closure of schools and colleges in five additional divisions.
The closure order, issued by Environment Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh, affects educational institutions from nursery to grade 12 in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal. Effective from November 13 to 17, these closures expand on those already in place in Lahore and surrounding areas as the province contends with unprecedented pollution levels.
Additionally, the government has imposed early closing restrictions on markets in four major divisions—Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Multan. Following the Lahore High Court’s directive, shops, malls, and restaurants must shut by 8 p.m. until November 17, with exemptions for pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, and bakeries.
The smog has caused the Air Quality Index (AQI) to spike to hazardous levels, with cities like Lahore and Multan recording AQI figures exceeding 2000 in recent days. Photos from these cities reveal streets and buildings shrouded in dense haze, posing serious health risks to residents.
To protect public health, the province has also banned outdoor dining and public gatherings, aiming to reduce residents’ exposure to the toxic air.