As winter months have arrived in the Pakistan city of Lahore, the city is once again shrouded in thick layers of smoke as a result of air pollution.
The potential health impact of air pollution led to school closures in Lahore because of children whose developing respiratory systems are more vulnerable to airborne toxins.
Lahore Air Pollution: A Growing Crisis
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, has consistently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, with its air quality index (AQI) often reaching hazardous levels.
In recent years, Lahore's AQI has frequently exceeded 300, which is a level categorized as “hazardous” by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
In fact, in November 2023, Lahore’s AQI reportedly rose above 500 on certain days, pushing it into the “severe” category.
According to the Air Quality Index ranking, Lahore often competes with cities like New Delhi and Beijing for the top spot among the most polluted cities globally. With particulate matter (PM2.5) levels surpassing 200 µg/m³—nearly 10 times the WHO’s recommended safe limit—residents are regularly exposed to air quality that poses immediate health risks.
Living in Lahore on days when the air quality is poor is equivalent to smoking around 20 to 25 cigarettes per day.
Sadly, the primary culprits behind this pollution are vehicular emissions, industrial smoke, and crop burning in surrounding regions.
Health Impact of Air Pollution on Children
Air pollution is known to have a particularly harsh impact on children, whose respiratory systems are still developing.
Exposure to pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are abundant in Lahore’s air, can cause respiratory issues, decreased lung function, and even reduce brain development in young children.
Poor air quality can also cause asthma, lung cancer, infant mortality and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
In 2021, air pollution was the second leading cause of death of children under 5 years following malnutrition.
All of these led to the decision to close schools in Lahore for primary institutions as a preventive measure to shield children from these immediate health risks.
The Need for Long-Term Solutions
While school closures in Lahore might offer immediate relief, there is the need for a more sustainable approach to tackle Lahore air pollution crisis.
These long-term solutions could be stricter emissions regulations for industries, improved public transportation systems to reduce vehicular emissions, and even increased green spaces to help filter pollutants. Also, public awareness campaigns focused on reducing the use of personal vehicles and adopting eco-friendly practices can make meaningful change.
Final Insight
The closure of primary schools in Lahore amid record-breaking air pollution levels reminds the world and other cities with poor air quality like New Delhi, Beijing and New Mexico of the environmental and health challenges facing urban centers today.
While the immediate step of protecting children from exposure is important, there is a need for a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of smog in Lahore.
Tackling Lahore’s air pollution problem requires coordinated efforts from the government, industries, and citizens to safeguard the city’s future and the health of its residents.