Pakistan shuts down public spaces amid rising air pollution crisis in Punjab

With air pollution levels reaching hazardous levels, Pakistan’s Punjab province has imposed a ban on public access to various spaces, including parks and zoos, effective from Friday.

The directive, covering areas such as Lahore, prohibits entry to parks, playgrounds, historical sites, and museums until November 17 as authorities seek to shield the public from deteriorating air quality.

Lahore, the provincial capital, has been shrouded in dense smog this week, consistently ranking as the world’s most polluted city according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir. The intense pollution has also led to school closures and a shift to remote work to protect residents from the adverse effects of poor air quality.

The problem of air pollution intensifies each winter across South Asia when cold air traps pollutants from industrial emissions, dust, and stubble burning.

Punjab authorities have partially attributed this year’s high pollution levels to toxic air drifting in from neighboring India, where air quality has similarly worsened. Delhi was listed as the second most polluted city by IQAir, with emissions from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana contributing heavily.

To address stubble burning, a significant factor in regional pollution, India recently doubled fines for violators. Farmers with land holdings of less than two acres face penalties of 5,000 rupees, while those with larger properties could pay up to 30,000 rupees. The initiative, led by India’s environment ministry, aims to reduce the frequency of this harmful practice and improve air quality across the region.