Lack of rain may intensify smog

Number of patients with respiratory problems on the rise

LAHORE:

Persisting smog in Lahore and other cities of the province is set to intensify in the coming days if there is no rain.

Amid ongoing implementation of measures to check pollution, the environment department had forecast smog in Lahore for over 20 days, but there is no hope that it will end in the near future. The smog is expected to intensify in the coming days due to a drop in temperature. The mercury has not yet dropped drastically in the provincial capital during the current season, but lack of rain in the next few days may increase the level of smog.

With the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to more than 390 on most days, Lahore is among the most polluted cities in the world. Citizens suffering from respiratory diseases are facing severe problems and many of them are visiting the city hospitals for treatment. Especially, the number of patients reporting to the hospital emergency departments with respiratory diseases is on the rise.

The environment department banned the burning of rice crop residues even before the beginning of November, when the smog season starts. It also shut down brick kilns in the areas surrounding the cities to eliminate pollution. Factories responsible for spreading pollution have also been shut down.

As the temperature in Lahore decreases, the intensity of smog has started increasing but its level is not as high as previous years because of less fog. However, it is expected to increase in the next few days as it has not started raining yet.

According to latest data from various localities of the city, the AQI recorded at HAC Agriculture reached 516, US Consulate 364, DHA LUMS 360, Upper Mall 326 and Askari X 306.

A high level of pollution is being recorded in the densely populated areas of the provincial capital, including Gulberg and Misri Shah.

According to the environment department, pollution for across the Indian border is also contributing to the problems in Lahore during the crop harvesting season.

In addition to the provincial capital, people in Raiwind, Multan, Gujranwala, Muridke, Sahiwal, Okara and Faisalabad are also facing serious problems due to smog. If plans are not prepared by the government to curb smog in the coming years, its effects on humans, animals and trees are likely to become severe.

Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Dr Javed Akram told The Express tribune that complaints of eye and respiratory allergies are increasing among people due to the persistence of smog. As a result, symptoms of fever and cold are being reported in a large number.

In addition, the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated and the number of patients of the disease is increasing rapidly.

Dr Akram said that on one hand the government needed to take action in view of the situation, while on the other hand the people also should take precautions to protect themselves from the adverse effects of smog. He said people should avoid leaving their homes as much as possible, drink as much water as possible, wash their eyes, and eat vegetables and fruits to increase immunity and prevent diseases.

According to botanists, the smog also caused damage to trees. Due to the accumulation of carbon particles, the plants are being affected severely.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2020.