A THICK blanket of toxic smog has overwhelmed Lahore owing to high pollution levels in recent weeks. To inhale a draught of fresh air has become very difficult. Without unpolluted oxygen, it is very difficult to live. On the other side one can drink purified water but air is not in their control.

With air pollution linked to diseases, including lung cancer and acute respiratory infections, pollution levels in Lahore have reached alarming levels.

These days Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) and PM2.5 air pollution is 230 which is unhealthy and extremely dangerous. The acceptable AQI level should be under 100.

It is the duty of the government, stakeholders and civil society to introduce oxygen bars or similar outlets like other countries to provide relief to citizens.

Further, the government should take strict action to stop annual burning of crop residuals, order bricks kiln owners to introduce zigzag technology to reduce emission of gigantic quantities of smoke, and other measures to reduce smoke emission in the metropolis.

Ahsan ul haq Sh.

Lahore

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2019