Suffocating Punjab

Punjab’s toxic smog has reached crisis levels, with hospitals overwhelmed and air quality dangerously poor.

Toxic smog has turned its air into a health hazard in Punjab, forcing the provincial government to acknowledge what is now a full-blown "health crisis". For weeks, a thick blanket of pollution has choked cities like Lahore and Multan, pushing air quality levels to dangerous extremes. Multan recently broke records with its Air Quality Index (AQI) shooting past 2,000 - twice. Lahore, not to be outdone, grabbed the grim title of the most polluted city on the planet with an AQI reading of 1,591.

The toll on public health is staggering as nearly two million cases of respiratory illnesses in a single month. Asthma flare-ups, eye infections and heart conditions are now everyday complaints, leaving hospitals stretched to their limits. In response, Punjab's government has been scrambling. Schools have been shut, dangerous vehicles pulled off the roads and over 800 brick kilns have been demolished. Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb proudly highlighted efforts like deploying emission control systems (ECS) in industries and subsidising 1,000 super-seeders for farmers to curb the infamous stubble burning. Moreover, plans are afoot to distribute 5,000 more next year. But these actions, though necessary, only scratch the surface of something far deeper. The question is: can we curb the crisis through remedial measures, or is adaptation the only way forward? Smog is not a problem that will disappear overnight, nor can it be solved with quick fixes. Rather, Pakistan must invest in innovative technologies, particularly in agriculture and transport, to better understand and solve the problem. A comprehensive strategy - focusing on a cleaner transport industry and responsible agricultural practices - coupled with adaptive, data-driven solutions, is the only way forward.

The government's failure to act decisively has come at a tremendous cost to public health. A realisation must prevail that ineffective measures will no longer suffice. Instead, expert and professional advice of international organisations must be to sought to tackle this crisis in a meaningful way.