Multan emerges Pakistan’s most polluted city

MULTAN: Multan was designated the most polluted urban area in Pakistan, with nighttime air quality levels reaching alarming rates.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Multan reportedly surpassed 1,900, shedding light on the level of air pollution in the city.

Read more: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s foreign debt rises to Rs680 billion

Lahore follows closely behind, ranking as the second most polluted city in the country of 240 million.

The ongoing issues with smog increased air quality concerns in several urban centres of the country, particularly within Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The air pollution has been attributed to several reasons, including industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural burning.

Authorities were forced to implement several measures to mitigate the impact on the public health and safety. The Lahore High Court, for example, ordered the closure of markets throughout Punjab at 8 pm, with all commercial activities halted on Sundays, too.

The authorities hope to decrease vehicular traffic and associated emissions during peak pollution periods.

Recreational activities, including sports fields, museums and zoon in all 18 districts affected by smog will remain closed till November 17.

The Lahore Walled City Authority also halted all tourism and entertainment activities in the city for the same time period.

Motorways closed due to smog

The smog also forced the closure of several major motorways in Punjab. M1 from Charsadda to Akbarpura, M2 from Lahore to Kot Sarwar, M4 from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakeem have been closed to traffic due to reduced visibility caused by fog and pollution.

Similarly, M5 from Shershah to Jhangara and the Lahore-Sialkot motorway were also impacted.

Read more: Islamabad police hold open courts in mosques to tend to public grievances

The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) issued warning advising commuters to travel during daylight hours, particularly between 10 am and 6 pm, when visibility is better.