Pakistan’s air pollution crisis has reached alarming levels, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warning that 11 million children in the eastern Punjab province are at serious health risk due to the worsening smog. Experts have described the persistent pollution as a “fifth season” in recent years, with toxic smog enveloping Lahore, the country’s cultural capital, and 17 other districts across Punjab since last month.

Health authorities report that over 40,000 people have sought medical attention for respiratory problems, with 900 people hospitalized in Lahore alone on Tuesday. In response, special smog counters have been set up at clinics to triage affected patients.

UNICEF’s Pakistan representative, Abdullah Fadil, emphasized the urgent need for action, calling on the government to take stronger steps to reduce pollution, which is already responsible for a significant number of child deaths. “Before these unprecedented levels of air pollution, about 12% of deaths in children under five in Pakistan were linked to air pollution,” Fadil stated. “The full impact of this year’s smog will take time to evaluate, but it is clear that doubling or tripling the pollution levels will have devastating effects, especially on children and pregnant women.”

Key Points on Pakistan’s Air Pollution Crisis :

• Lahore, home to 14 million people and surrounded by factories near the Indian border, regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. This month, pollution levels have reached record highs.
•  Punjab has closed schools and public spaces, including parks and zoos, until November 17. The city of Lahore is currently the most polluted in the world, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1045 on Tuesday morning, according to Swiss-based IQAir.
•  The Environmental Protection Department in Punjab reported that Multan, which recorded an AQI reading of 800 on Monday, remains one of the most polluted cities. Last week, the AQI in Multan surged past 2,000, a level never before seen by local residents.
•  The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that air pollution can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory issues, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
•  The government has mandated the use of face masks to combat pollution, though compliance has been poor. In addition, authorities are exploring the possibility of inducing artificial rainfall to help alleviate the smog.

This ongoing air quality crisis poses severe health risks, especially for young children, with the full extent of the damage still to be determined.