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Pakistan Smog Crisis
Eastern Pakistan is grappling with extreme smog, forcing school and public space closures and causing severe health issues. The government is taking measures but a long-term solution is needed.
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HealthMiddle EastClimate ChangePollutionAir QualityEnvironmental IssuesPublic Health Emergency
NasaIqair
- What are the health consequences of this extreme smog?
- Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients suffering from respiratory problems due to the smog, with long-term health risks including asthma, heart and lung diseases, and cancer.
- How severe is the smog situation, and how is it being measured?
- The smog, a mix of air pollution and fog, is so intense that it is visible in NASA satellite images; air quality index values have exceeded 1000, far above the dangerous level of 300.
- What are the main sources contributing to the smog in eastern Pakistan?
- The primary causes of the smog are millions of vehicles and numerous factories in the densely populated Punjab province, along with farmers burning fields after harvest and cold air from the Himalayas.
- What actions have been taken in response to the extreme smog in Pakistan?
- The severe smog in eastern Pakistan has caused the closure of schools and public spaces for the coming week, urging people to work from home and limit outdoor activities.
- What are the government's efforts and plans to address the ongoing smog problem?
- While the Pakistani government is employing measures like water spraying, a long-term solution, such as improving public transport, is needed to tackle this annually worsening problem.