Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Lahore continues to rank as the world&rsquo;s most polluted city for a fifth straight day, as cross-border smoke from widespread crop burning in India mixes with local emissions to drive smog to dangerous levels across Pakistan&rsquo;s Punjab.&nbsp;According to the Swiss air monitoring platform IQAir, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Pakistan&rsquo;s second largest city surged to 567 on Wednesday morning, placing it in the &ldquo;hazardous&rdquo; category and prompting health advisories and enforcement actions.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Lahore&rsquo;s AQI had peaked at 424, while PM2.5 levels reached 287 &micro;g/m&sup3;, far exceeding safe limits. Karachi also recorded severe pollution on October 28, ranking third globally with an AQI of 174, while New Delhi placed second with 276.&nbsp;In response, the Punjab government has revised school timings, with classes now beginning at 8:45 am, to limit children&rsquo;s exposure during peak smog hours.&nbsp;Environmental experts say stagnant winter air, vehicle emissions, industrial output, and agricultural fires are collectively worsening conditions. However, smoke from crop residue burning across the border in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Haryana has notably intensified smog, elevating PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations across Pakistan&rsquo;s largest province.&nbsp;Health professionals warn that prolonged exposure to such hazardous air can lead to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, and lung cancer. Residents have been advised to wear masks and avoid outdoor activities, particularly during early morning and late evening.&nbsp;The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared a high alert across Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan.&nbsp;&ldquo;The intensity of smog is expected to increase from November to mid-December,&rdquo; said PDMA Director Hameedullah Malik in a statement to Pakistan TV Digital. He said a ban is in place on burning crop residues, solid waste, tires, plastic, and rubber, adding that legal action will be taken against violators.&nbsp;Tech-driven crackdownThe Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has deployed drone surveillance to identify active pollution sources. Over the past 48 hours, authorities detected more than 756 violations, according to PSCA.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change is promoting sustainable alternatives to burning. At a seminar in Kabirwala, farmers were trained to manage rice stubble without setting fields ablaze. Officials explained how agricultural waste can be converted into biomass energy, turning residue into a resource rather than smoke.&nbsp;&ldquo;Smog is a serious environmental and public health issue, requiring collective and coordinated efforts,&rdquo; said Project Coordinator Dr. Younus Zahid.&nbsp;Citizens have been urged to report smog-causing activities to the helpline 15.&nbsp;Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said nine departments are carrying out joint anti-smog operations, with environmental squads in the field and drone monitoring of brick kilns. She said AQI forecasting has been introduced in Punjab for early intervention, in addition to high-powered anti-smog guns deployed by the Environment Protection Agency.&nbsp;She advised vulnerable groups to stay indoors at night. &ldquo;Already a ban is in place on all types of outdoor activities at schools,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Local innovation for pollution controlEngineers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) have developed an anti-smog gun with a 40-meter spray range, designed to suppress dust at high-pollution sites.&nbsp;UET Vice Chancellor Professor Munir, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said the system would be deployed at construction sites, stone-crushing plants, and mining operations, all major contributors to airborne particulate pollution.

Climate & Environment

In Lahore, hazardous smog persists for a fifth day as cross-border crop burning from India and local emissions drive pollution to dangerous levels, triggering health warnings, school adjustments, and province-wide enforcement.

Pakistan battles severe smog as Indian crop burning intensifies air crisis

LAHORE: Spinner Noman Ali grabbed four wickets to restrict South Africa to 216-6 at the close of play on day two of the first Test in Lahore on Monday, despite a fighting half-century from Tony de Zorzi.&nbsp;Spinners dominated on a turning Gaddafi Stadium pitch as all the day&#39;s 11 wickets went to slow bowlers, with South African left-armer Senuran Muthusamy taking a career-best 6-117 to dismiss Pakistan for 378.&nbsp;Zorzi was holding the fort at the close with 81 not out and Muthusamy on six as South Africa trail by 162 runs in the first innings.&nbsp;Zorzi batted with guts, knocking nine boundaries and a six, combating Noman, who claimed 4-85.&nbsp;South Africa started off well with 45-0 on the board when Noman removed touring skipper Aiden Markram for 20 and Wiaan Mulder for 17, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.&nbsp;Ryan Rickelton, who scored a punishing 71 with two sixes and nine boundaries, and Zorzi added 94 for the third wicket, taking on the spinners with some aggressive shots.&nbsp;It was part-timer Salman Agha who broke the stand by forcing an edge from Rickelton with Babar Azam taking a smart low catch in the slips.&nbsp;Noman returned for his third spell to get Tristan Stubbs caught behind for eight and Kyle Kyle Verreynne leg-before for two while Sajid Khan removed Dewald Brevis for a golden duck.&nbsp;Earlier, it was Noman&#39;s like-for-like left-armer Muthusamy who destroyed Pakistan after they resumed on 313-5, losing their last five wickets for just 16 runs.&nbsp;Agha hit five fours and three sixes in his 93 and was last man out, caught in the deep off spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who took 2-78.&nbsp;Agha added 49 with Rizwan to take their sixth-wicket stand to 163 before Muthusamy ripped out the middle order with three wickets in the 12th over of the day.&nbsp;Rizwan was the first to go, for 75, when he edged a sharply turning ball to wicketkeeper Verreynne after a knock containing two fours and two sixes.&nbsp;Two balls later Noman went without scoring, bowled when he played down the wrong line and then Sajid Khan followed first ball, caught in the slips.&nbsp;It became 378-9 when Muthusamy bowled Shaheen Shah Afridi, on seven, for his sixth wicket.&nbsp;His previous Test best was 4-45 against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.

Cricket

Spinner Noman Ali’s four wickets reduced South Africa to 216-6 in reply to Pakistan’s 378 on day two of the Lahore Test, despite Tony de Zorzi’s unbeaten 81. Earlier, Muthusamy claimed a career-best 6-117.

Articles tagged with "lahore"

Pakistan battles severe smog as Indian crop burning intensifies air crisis

Noman derails South Africa to 216-6 in first Pakistan Test