Sun Nov 03 21:47:00 UTC 2024: ## Lahore Suffers Record-Breaking Smog, Prompts Emergency Measures
**Lahore, Pakistan (Nov. 4, 2024):** The city of Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest, is grappling with an unprecedented air pollution crisis, prompting authorities to implement emergency measures on Sunday. The city topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday, recording a record high pollution reading of 1900 near the Pakistan-India border on Saturday, based on data from the provincial government and IQAir.
To combat the thick smog blanketing the city, the government has implemented a range of measures, including closing primary schools for a week, issuing a work-from-home mandate for 50% of office employees, and banning three-wheelers (rickshaws). Construction has also been halted in certain areas to reduce pollution levels. Factories and construction sites that fail to comply with these regulations could face closure.
Citizens have been advised to stay indoors, keep their windows and doors closed, and avoid unnecessary travel. Hospitals have been equipped with smog counters to provide medical assistance.
Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb attributed the severe air quality deterioration to winds carrying pollution from neighboring India, calling for talks with the country to address the issue.
“This cannot be solved without talks with India,” Aurangzeb stated, adding that the provincial government will initiate dialogue through Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
The smog crisis in Lahore, similar to that in Delhi, India, tends to worsen during colder months due to temperature inversion, which traps pollution near the ground.
First Piper 