Lahore's toxic air plagues thousands

Number of pulmonary patients swells across Punjab

LAHORE:

Thousands of citizens have been afflicted by ailments attributed to smog across Punjab.

The major hospitals in Lahore have recorded a spike in the number of patients complaining of symptoms linked to air pollution.

Respiratory infections, eye irritation, asthma attacks and chest congestion gripped a large number of people as a thick blanket of smog continued to suffocate major cities, leaving citizens struggling to breathe.

Hospitals in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur witnessed an alarming rise in the number of patients suffering from pollution-related ailments.

Doctors warned that the situation had escalated into a health emergency.

According to real-time data, Lahore's Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered around 200 on Tuesday, categorised as unhealthy.

In Bahawalpur and Multan, readings surged beyond 500, entering the 'hazardous' range. Faisalabad and Gujranwala also recorded alarming levels, crossing the 400 mark. Environmental researchers say the concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5 in Lahore averaged around 262 micrograms per cubic meter, over 17 times higher than the World Health Organisation's safety guidelines.

Hospitals across Punjab were struggling to cope with the influx of patients.

In government hospitals, outpatient departments reported a sharp rise in cases of respiratory distress, throat infections and eye allergies.

"Children are being hit hardest by this toxic air," said Dr Saleemuz Zaman, the Head of Pulmonology in a major hospital in Lahore.

"We are seeing otherwise healthy children coming in with severe coughing, wheezing and even early signs of heart strain. Smog is no longer just an environmental issue; it's a medical crisis," he added.

In Mayo Hospital, the province's largest public healthcare facility, doctors have been placed on high alert as patient numbers soar.

"We are treating dozens of new cases daily of asthma exacerbation and acute respiratory infections caused by the smog," said Dr Fareed Ahmad, senior pulmonologist at Mayo Hospital. "People must adopt strict precautionary measures, avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, especially in early morning and evening, use face masks, keep windows closed and drink plenty of fluids. Prevention is crucial right now."

Pulmonologists and cardiologists across the province reported a steady increase in asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis flare ups and heart complications.

Doctors warn that even healthy individuals are at risk when AQI levels exceed 300. "For patients with lung or heart diseases, this exposure can quickly become life threatening," added Dr Zaman.

Experts blame multiple factors for the recurring smog crisis, including vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and burning of crop residue in nearby rural districts. The stagnant winter air and lack of wind prevent the pollutants from dispersing, trapping them close to the ground and forming a suffocating haze. Environmental researcher Dr Munawer Sabir said PM2.5 levels in Lahore are persistently far above global safety limits.