Lahore's smog visible from space: Pollution hits dangerous levels

Satellite imagery shows severity of smog crisis; UNICEF warns of toxic air impacting millions, especially children.

Lahore, along with other parts of Punjab, has been grappling with a severe smog crisis since the past month, with satellite images now capturing the dense and toxic haze.

The thick smog cloud, which has engulfed the city and much of northern India, is visible from space in NASA's satellite imagery.

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Both Lahore is shown as being shrouded in dark, hazardous haze with almost no green spaces visible.

The air quality in Lahore has reached alarming levels, with Swiss air quality technology company IQAir ranking it as the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday.

It topped the Air Quality Index (AQI) list, leaving New Delhi and Kinhasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) in second and third place. According to the AQI, Lahore's air quality is categorized as "very hazardous."

Photo: IQAir

The thick smog continues to have serious health implications, particularly for vulnerable populations. UNICEF has issued a dire warning, stating that the pollution is posing severe risks, especially for over 11 million children under the age of five.

The air is so polluted that hundreds, including children, have been hospitalized in the hardest-hit areas, and the environmental disaster has even prompted the closure of schools and public spaces in Lahore.

This annual smog crisis is exacerbated by several factors, including the burning of agricultural waste, coal-fired power plants, traffic emissions, and stagnant weather conditions.

Despite the recurrent nature of smog in South Asian cities, local authorities in Lahore have described this season as unprecedented in its intensity and impact.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed deep concern for the welfare of children who are forced to breathe in toxic air daily.

Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF's representative in Pakistan, emphasized the extreme danger the pollution poses to young children, with millions at risk of health complications.