A hazardous layer of toxic smog has recently enveloped eastern Pakistan and northern India, resulting in a serious pollution crisis that is visible from space. NASA’s satellite images illustrate the thick gray smog affecting major cities like Lahore and New Delhi. Lahore, with a population exceeding 14 million and surrounded by industrial activity, has reported record pollution levels this month, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching concerning heights.
The pollution, primarily attributed to industrial discharges, vehicle emissions, and the burning of agricultural waste, has prompted health emergencies, leading to school closures and bans on outdoor activities, raising significant health concerns. The dangerous air quality poses serious risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues.
Satellite imagery from NASA captures the severity of the situation, showing Lahore and New Delhi enveloped in a dense, toxic fog. The Swiss organization IQAir reported that Lahore’s pollution index hit a staggering 1165, while New Delhi’s numbers hovered around 350. An AQI under 50 is viewed as safe, but these readings are vastly above the hazardous threshold of 300.
To safeguard residents, especially children, Pakistani officials have closed schools until November 17. In Multan, about 350 kilometers from Lahore, the AQI climbed even higher to 2,000. In response to the alarming conditions, authorities have restricted access to parks, zoos, and other public venues, as well as shutting down polluting tuk-tuks and restaurants that use unfiltered barbecues. Punjab has established a “smog war room” to tackle issues such as agricultural waste burning and traffic management.
The smog crisis in Lahore is the result of a mixture of factory emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural stubble burning, which intensifies during the winter months when cooler temperatures and low winds trap the toxic haze. The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that air pollution can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory problems, with children, infants, and the elderly being particularly susceptible. The most dangerous pollutant in Lahore is PM2.5, fine particulate matter resulting from fossil fuel combustion, dust storms, and wildfires, linked to severe health issues including asthma, heart and lung diseases, cancer, and cognitive impairments in children.
In Multan, the AQI surged to 2,135, with PM2.5 levels reaching a concerning 947 micrograms per cubic meter—189 times the WHO’s safe limit. Throughout the night, the AQI exceeded 980, remaining three times above the hazardous mark of 300.
In Lahore, air quality has remained in the hazardous range, with the AQI surpassing 600, though it has improved from nearly 1,900 levels earlier. The government has implemented critical measures to mitigate the effects of pollution, including the closure of schools and public areas, and issuing heightened health warnings for those facing respiratory illnesses and other health problems related to the toxic air.
