I AM a native of Gilgit-Baltistan. Currently, I am pursuing my higher education at the Government College University (GCU) in Lahore. I have been living in the city for well over a year.

On my arrival in the city, I remember, I was mesmerised by the charms of city life compared to what life was like back in my hometown. I was taken aback by the sheer number of educational institutions, hospitals, markets, and other such facilities. When it comes to transport, Lahore was, and is, at just on another level, with services like Orange Line, Metrobus and Speedo. I still remember how I used to recommend the city to my family and friends as a favourable place to live.

However, soon this amazement disappeared into Lahore’s polluted air. The dust in the air and the seriously smoke-filled atmosphere started to get on my nerves. Suddenly it dawned on me that despite all the facilities and charms of Lahore, it is difficult to breathe. It is just about toxic even if the locals do not realise this.

Besides, almost every road and street is littered with garbage and rubbish. It appears that the local people treat their own city as a giant trash can; a garbage dump. Can there be a better, more effective recipe for spreading diseases on a large scale? I can’t think of any.

Health is one of the top priorities of human beings and they are naturally attracted towards cleanliness. Without health, all the available facilities are useless. Lahore’s air quality is touching hazardous levels. In fact, it recently beat New Delhi as the world’s most polluted city. I think there are a lot of other better areas where we should be competing against our neighbours.

The authorities concerned must take immediate steps on a large scale to address these serious health and social problems in order to make Lahore a city to live — and breathe — once again.

Mudassir Iqbal
Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2022