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Every second person on the streets Lahorecapital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, coughs or complains of a sore throat as he goes about his daily activities, and has little ability to prevent toxic particles from entering his lungs when he inhales the air. the most polluted city in the world.

“When you go outside, you see people coughing or their throats itching, which does not happen in other months of the year,” he assured. EFE Lahore resident Ahsan Qureshi.

Pakistan’s hospitals and clinics are flooded with patients suffer from the consequences of pollutionand health authorities say hundreds of them have been treated for respiratory illnesses in areas affected by the epidemic. smog.

“We don’t know the exact number because most of the patients who came for treatment suffered from respiratory problems before the smog started, so we can’t say how many people were affected by the new smog,” he said. . To EFE This was announced by Punjab Ministry of Health spokesman Maqbool Malik.

The air quality index (AQI) in Lahore and other parts of Punjab has crossed the 1,000 mark several times in recent days, according to IQAir, a Swiss group that measures air quality levels. Levels above 300 are considered “dangerous.” World Health Organization (WHO).

In the midst of a health emergency, the provincial government has banned the use of commercial generators, two-stroke motorcycles and rickshaws (a type of internal combustion engine). In addition, schools, public and children’s parks, zoos and museums in major cities are closed until November 17.

“There are about 50% fewer people on the roads and streets of Lahore these days due to smog,” Malik added.

Outdoor activities, including sporting events, exhibitions, festivals and dining on restaurant terraces, are also not possible in some areas, including Lahore.

Markets, shops and shopping centers must close at eight o’clock in the evening, with the exception of pharmacies, gas stations and shops selling essential food and medical supplies.

Likewise, the government ordered half of employees in public and private offices to work from home to reduce traffic, while moving to set up an “anti-smog operations center” to address toxic air concerns, and made masks mandatory.

Post Covid-19, the sale of masks has increased again in the city. However, according to the official, the propensity to wear it remains very low.

“I think only 30% of people are wearing masks, which means the rest of the population is being exposed,” Malik said.

For several days now, Lahoris have been staying at home unless there is a need to go out, which means they do not feel much difference between day and night, spending gray days under a thick blanket of toxins.

“We haven’t seen the sun for many days, but if at any point you see a little bit of the sun, it’s red,” 77-year-old woman Marta Lal told EFE.

Several people in her area, including herself, have throat and cough problems, and some don’t go to the doctor for fear of exposure to more toxic air.

Since 2017, the people of Lahore have become accustomed to the phenomenon of smog, but this time its severity is unmatched.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday said smog conditions in Punjab province are expected to continue into November and December.

The NDMA emphasized that “smog is caused by emissions from stubble burning, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, as well as ground-level ozone and particles such as PM 10 and PM 2.5 (the most hazardous to human health).”

When inhaled, PM 2.5 penetrates deep into lung tissue, where it can enter the bloodstream and cause asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer or other respiratory diseases.

South Asia, especially India and Pakistan, experiences heavy pollution every winter. Pollution could reduce life expectancy in the region by more than five years, according to a 2023 study.

EFE