Smog in Pakistan, An Escalating Public Health Emergency

作者：Arslan Shuja · 发表于：DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICO-LIFE-SCIENCES · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.69750/dmls.02.011.0174

Smog has become one of the most serious environmental and public health challenges confronting Pakistan, especially in major urban centers such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Karachi. Each winter, the toxic haze settles over these cities like a suffocating blanket, disrupting daily life, damaging the economy, and more alarmingly, endangering the health of millions [1]. Despite repeated warnings from environmental experts and healthcare professionals, Pakistan continues to struggle with a crisis that is largely preventable and deeply rooted in policy gaps, poor environmental governance, and unchecked urbanization [2].          The primary contributors to smog in Pakistan are well known: vehicular emissions from an aging and poorly regulated transport fleet, industrial pollutants released without adequate filtration, burning of crop residue, brick kiln emissions, and domestic combustion of low-quality fuels [3]. Seasonal temperature inversions further trap these pollutants near ground level, intensifying their concentration. Fine particulate matter, especially PM2.5, often reaches levels 20 to 30 times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization. These particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering a cascade of health complications [4].          The impact on human health is staggering. Each smog season brings a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchi...