LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Lahore is currently grappling with severe air pollution, marked by thick layers of smog persisting since a brief respite brought by weekend rainfall. The city’s air quality has sharply deteriorated, earning it the dubious distinction of being the second most polluted city globally on Thursday.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Lahore soared to an alarming 470, categorizing it as ‘Hazardous,’ according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitor. New Delhi, India, claimed the top spot with an even higher AQI of 514.
Specifically, Phase 8 in Defence emerged as the most polluted area within Lahore, recording an AQI of 751, followed by Polo Ground Cantt at 582. This trend of hazardous air quality in Lahore is not a recent development but a recurring issue, particularly during the ‘fifth season’ of smog that persists from September to February in the region.
In comparison, Karachi, while still facing air quality challenges, ranked third globally with an AQI of just under 200, indicating a comparatively better situation than Lahore.
The persistence of hazardous air quality in Lahore underscores a longstanding issue that extends beyond the recent months, signaling the need for comprehensive measures to address the ongoing smog crisis.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Declares Emergency In Some Districts To Repatriate Illegal Foreigners
Meanwhile, the Relief, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officially announced an Emergency status in the districts of Khyber, Peshawar, and Nowshera to repatriate illegal foreigners.
This move aims to accelerate operational efforts at transit and staging points for the swift repatriation of illegal foreigners.
A notification issued in this regard grants authorization to the Director General (DG) of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the three districts.
They are empowered to mobilize all available resources, deploy necessary machinery, and arrange essential equipment to establish and manage these transit and staging points for the repatriation process.
