Over 11m children under five in Punjab exposed to toxic smog: UN

The United Nations has called for immediate and greater efforts to reduce air pollution in Pakistan, highlighting the alarming impact on children’s health. More than 11 million children under five years of age in Punjab province are exposed to toxic smog, the UN warned on Monday.

“I am extremely concerned about the well-being of young children who are forced to breathe polluted, toxic air. Over 11 million children under five years of age are exposed to this smog in the worst-affected districts,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF's representative in Islamabad.

This urgent plea coincides with the Punjab government's desperate measures to tackle the hazardous air pollution.

The provincial capital, Lahore, and other districts have been blanketed in smog for weeks, prompting the closure of schools, public parks, zoos, and playgrounds, along with reduced market hours.

Lahore, a city of over 14 million people, faces severe air pollution annually, largely caused by the burning of crop stubble by farmers in Pakistan and neighbouring India. Industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust also contribute significantly to the air quality crisis.

The UN estimates that the closure of schools since November 17 has disrupted the education of nearly 16 million children in Punjab.

“The air pollution is so severe it is now visible from space,” the statement said, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Air pollution remains one of the leading causes of death among children in Pakistan. According to UNICEF, prior to these extreme levels, around 12% of child deaths under five were attributed to polluted air.

The agency stressed that exposure to pollutants is particularly harmful to babies’ developing lungs and brains, with long-term consequences for cognitive development.

“We cannot afford to let our babies breathe toxic air. We cannot let the health, education and well-being of millions of children suffer,” Fadil added, urging immediate action for the sake of future generations.

The situation has triggered growing calls for both local and international measures to combat the rising air pollution and protect the health of vulnerable children.