Smog crisis: India and Pakistan choke under toxic haze
Dense smog hovering over Punjab province and much of India is visible from space. It can be observed in NASA's satellite images.
Asia is grappling with severe air pollution. Pakistan and India, especially, are experiencing exceptionally dense smog. It has reached an alarming level in Pakistan, as confirmed by NASA's satellite images. The air pollution extends over Punjab province and large areas of India, beyond Delhi's capital.
CNN highlights that in some places, the concentration of PM2.5 particulate matter is more than 110 times higher than the safe level defined by the World Health Organization. Such high levels seriously threaten the health of the region's residents.
Smog and child deaths
Abdullah Fadil from UNICEF in Pakistan warns that smog threatens the health of 11 million children. "Doubling and tripling the amount of pollution in the air will have devastating effects, particularly on children and pregnant women," he warns. Previously, air pollution was responsible for 12% of deaths among children under five in the country.
The Pakistani government has mandated wearing masks, but as the AP agency notes, this requirement is often ignored. The country's authorities are looking for ways to solve the smog problem. They may decide to induce rain to artificially improve air quality.
Schools and government institutions were closed until 17th November. On Friday, provincial authorities closed parks, museums, zoos, and historical sites in 18 districts for ten days to encourage people to stay home until the air quality improves. On Monday, outdoor events, including sports and festivals, were banned. The opening hours of shops and markets were also limited to reduce the number of people leaving their homes.
