Smog turns alarming, Pak province declares health emergency, shutdown

Pakistan’s most populated province of Punjab declared a health emergency on Friday due to smog and imposed a shutdown in major cities.

The Punjab province also extended school closures by a week, with thousands hospitalised as the country battles record air pollution.

“A complete lockdown will be enforced on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (next week) if the situation does not improve by Wednesday,” said Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday.

In her press conference, Aurangzeb also stated that a health emergency has been declared in Lahore and Multan. All doctors and paramedical staff have had their holidays canceled, and schools, colleges, and universities in these cities will shift to online classes. All public and private institutions across Punjab, except for Murree, will remain closed.

Also during the day hundreds of thousands of Muslims prayed for rain and forgiveness in key cities of Punjab province including federal capital.

Schoolgirls wearing masks leave from school amid a rise in the levels of smog in Lahore. AFP

The province, home to more than half of Pakistan’s 240 million people, last week closed all schools until Nov.17 in major cities enveloped by smog.

Air quality in Lahore was deemed “hazardous,” according to data by IQAir, with the concentration of deadly PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter in the air that causes most damage to health — around 30 times the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation.

“Schools will remain closed for another week due to the hazardous air quality. Institutes including universities would switch to online classes to ensure the safety of students,” Marriyum Aurangzeb said. Aurangzeb also urged residents to “stop driving motorbikes and cars and to wear masks.” “Citizens play a role in mitigating smog, you need to help us to detox Lahore,” she said.

PRAY FOR RAIN: Responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the nation collectively turned to Allah in “Salat-e-Istisqa” (prayer for rain) on Friday, with the central congregation held at the iconic Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

The faithful gathered at over 600 government-run mosques in the province for “Salat-e-Istisqa,” a voluntary prayer for rain often offered in times of calamities, said Talha Mahmood, spokesman for the provincial Religious Affairs department.

“Today, we prayed for rain to decrease smog, though it is caused by humans’ own mistakes,” said Muhammad Ejaz, 48, who led prayers at a mosque in the sprawling provincial capital Lahore, adding the prayer aimed at seeking God’s forgiveness for people’s sins.

A woman carries a child as she walks across a railway track amid heavy smog in Lahore.

A large number of worshippers, including families and community leaders, attended the special prayers, demonstrating a united front against the ongoing dry spell that has exacerbated environmental and health challenges, including smog. The special prayers were offered immediately after the weekly ‘Jummah,’ (Friday) prayers, with clerics urging people to seek forgiveness and turn towards righteous deeds as a means to invoke Allah’s mercy.

Addressing the congregation at Faisal Masque, the prayer leader highlighted the significance of collective repentance. “Rain is a blessing from Allah, withheld only when humanity strays from His path. We must correct our ways, mend our treatment of the environment, and earnestly seek His mercy,” he said. Meanwhile, participants of the prayer were visibly moved, some with tears streaming down their faces. Ali Reza, a local resident, expressed her hopes for relief.

“The smog has made it difficult for children and the elderly to breathe. I pray that Allah showers His blessings upon us and relieves us from this hardship,” he said. Kashif Khan, another participant, emphasised the spiritual aspect. “This is not just a prayer for rain; it’s a reminder for all of us to improve our relationship with the Creator. As a community, we must be more responsible in addressing issues like deforestation and pollution that contribute to such calamities.”

Clerics across the country echoed similar sentiments, reminding citizens of their duty to protect the natural world as stewards of Allah’s creation. The unprecedented smog levels in major cities like Lahore and Karachi have already caused respiratory illnesses and disruptions to daily life, with many viewing the dry spell as a wake-up call.

Motorcyclists drive on a road as smog envelopes the area of Lahore, Pakistan. AP

Breathing the toxic air has catastrophic health consequences, with the WHO saying strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases can be triggered by prolonged exposure.

“More than 35,000 patients have been reported in the hospitals of Lahore due to smog-related health issues in almost a month,” Aurangzeb said.

‘DETOX LAHORE:’ Children are often hardest hit, with Unicef noting that “prior to these record-breaking levels of air pollution, about 12 per cent of deaths in children under five in Pakistan were due to air pollution.”

Last month, authorities banned schoolchildren from outdoor exercise until January and adjusted school hours to prevent children from travelling when the pollution is most punishing.

The UN’s food agency says transport is the main cause of air pollution in Pakistan, followed by industry and agriculture.

Agencies