Lahore
Due to worsening air quality, the Punjab provincial government in Pakistan on Friday has issued a ban on public access to parks, playgrounds, zoos, and other recreational spaces as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore crossed the alarming 1000 mark again. The ban, effective immediately, also applies to other districts including Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Punjab announced the closure of these areas following the hazardous deterioration of air quality. Lahore has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city, with the AQI consistently surpassing dangerous levels.
This order comes after Lahore’s AQI exceeded 1000, posing severe health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. A three-year-old girl, Amal Sekhera, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, seeking action from the government to protect citizens’ rights to a clean environment. She emphasized the impact of the pollution on vulnerable groups and the future of the younger generation.
The provincial government has declared a smog emergency and has shut down schools in Lahore and surrounding districts until November 17. Hospitals are seeing an increase in patients with respiratory issues, and the government has advised everyone to wear masks when leaving their homes. Additionally, preemptive measures have been taken to address sources of pollution.
With continued hazardous air quality, many cities in the province, including Multan and Gujranwala, are also severely affected.
