Experts urge preventive measures as Lahore still second most polluted city

Despite an overall decline in air pollution, Lahore ranked second worldwide for poor air quality, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 178, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Experts have suggested people adopt precautionary measures against smog hazards.

Lahore's weather is currently cold and dry with a recorded temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and not exempted from smog hazards. 

Eastern winds carrying pollutants from India, combined with local particle emissions, have led to worsening conditions. Despite cooling air, the AQI in many areas of Lahore is nearing the dangerous threshold of 300, signalling hazardous air quality for residents.

Specific areas in the city reported even higher readings, such as Phase 8 DHA at 244, Syed Marbat Ali Road at 194, and the US Consulate at 188. Other heavily polluted zones include Johar Town (184) and the Ghazi Road Interchange (179).

Authorities and health experts are urging citizens to adopt preventive measures. "Prevention is better than cure. Residents must wear masks and minimize the use of private vehicles by promoting public transport," officials stated. 

They emphasized the importance of maintaining clean living environments and reducing emissions at the community level. Weather experts predict no rain in the next 24 hours, which means the smog is likely to persist.

After completing the installation of 30 modern Air Quality Monitors in Lahore and other smog-hit districts, the Punjab government lifted most of the preventive restrictions, allowing construction work and work in offices.

Air pollution still prevails in Lahore and several other big districts with thousands of citizens suffering from diseases caused by smog. The affected districts include Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kasur and Faisalabad.

A report cited doctors as saying a large number of people visited the outpatient and emergency departments of the big hospitals. It added most of the patients elderly and children complained of respiratory diseases, cough, asthma, fever, eye and heart problems.

An official of the primary and secondary healthcare department said the hospitals were facing difficulties in coping with the high number of cases of respiratory diseases.

The official said the situation was most serious in Lahore, where 3,069 patients of respiratory diseases had been registered in hospitals. Most of them were senior citizens and children.