Toxic Smog Triggers Health Emergency in Punjab

Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, declared a health emergency due to worsening smog conditions. Measures include construction bans, school closures, and online university operations. Thousands participated in prayers for rain. Officials cite human activities and lack of rain as causes. Similar pollution issues are faced across South Asia.

In a bid to combat the rising health crisis caused by toxic smog, Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, has announced an emergency state, instituting bans on construction and mandating school closures for another week. Universities will transition to online modalities, marking a significant societal shift amid dire air quality challenges.

The collective effort included prayers for rain, as over 600 mosques hosted the faithful engaging in "Namaz-e-Istisqa," seeking divine intervention for relief. Muhammad Ejaz, a prayer leader in Lahore, emphasized the connection between human actions and the calamity, urging for atonement amid worsening environmental conditions.

Punjab authorities, attributing this severe pollution to a deficit in rainfall, have called for immediate action, with Lahore reporting unprecedented pollution levels. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb outlined measures including a potential full lockdown, mirroring steps taken by neighboring India, as the region grapples with pervasive air quality issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)