When does anyone feel it to be difficult or impossible to breathe? Typically when there is a toxic gas leak or all air supply is closed off. Unfortunately, this situation lies in the core of many countries as the bitter truth of their stifled situation. The reason? The insurmountable AQI Record. 

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), situations become hazardous when the AQI hits 300. Push it up to 500, the air quality is almost off the charts.  Recently, the AQI of Pakistan’s Lahore has soared to a shocking 1900, marking a historic high and cementing Lahore’s position as the most polluted city on Earth. Once celebrated as Pakistan’s cultural capital and a city of vibrant history, Lahore now finds itself suffocating under a thick blanket of toxic smog. This staggering AQI figure not only surpasses all previous records but also raises alarms about the dire environmental and public health crisis gripping the city.

Tearing down brick kilns, shutting down barbecue joints, impounding polluting vehicles, closing schools, forcing workers to stay home, and hospitalizing hundreds—this is the state of Pakistan as record-breaking pollution chokes the country. With an AQI that has reached unprecedented levels, the situation is dire for the 238 million residents of Pakistan, who now find themselves suffocating under hazardous air according to a fact sheet by the AQIL and especially hazardous for the 13 million residents of the city of Lahore situated in Pakistan.

The devastating toll of air pollution is undeniable. Last year alone, at least 235,000 people in Pakistan lost their lives to air pollution-related causes, with another 900 hospitalized in a single day due to respiratory issues. Smog is cutting years off the life expectancy of millions—potentially up to five years. And while schools have been forced to switch to remote learning and half the workforce instructed to stay home, these are only temporary measures, not solutions.

The crisis in Pakistan is part of a larger regional issue. Across the border, India also faces catastrophic pollution levels, with New Delhi ranked as the second most polluted city on Earth. India’s death toll from air pollution is even more staggering—2.18 million people annually. The economic losses are equally severe, with Pakistan losing up to 6.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to air pollution, while India bears a 3% GDP hit, as stated in Firspost article.

Both countries are victims of similar culprits: crop burning during the winter harvest months, industrial emissions, unregulated brick kilns, and vehicular pollution. Crop burning is a common practice in Pakistan and northern India, where farmers burn stubble after the harvest, releasing large amounts of smoke into the air. Factories and kilns operating without modern emission controls are major sources of particulate matter and toxic gases. Rapid, unregulated development has increased construction dust and reduced green spaces, further deteriorating air quality. 

Pakistan’s approach to managing the crisis has been reactive rather than proactive. The government has resorted to demolishing brick kilns, mandating masks, closing public spaces, and shifting schools to remote learning. While these actions have provided temporary relief, they fail to address the root causes of pollution. Demolishing brick kilns or closing schools does not solve the systemic issues driving air pollution, nor does it provide a long-term plan for sustainable development.

In response to these cross-border issues, Pakistan has proposed "smog diplomacy," a cooperative framework to address shared pollution problems. While the idea of bilateral cooperation sounds promising, it has remained largely rhetorical, with no concrete actions taken. This symbolic proposal has done little to address the immediate health crisis faced by millions in Pakistan. Rather than focusing on effective internal measures, Pakistan’s attempts to shift blame to India and advocate for "smog diplomacy" come across as diversionary. While cross-border pollution is a reality, the bulk of the crisis stems from domestic factors—failing to address them undermines any diplomatic efforts. Suggesting cooperation without implementing concrete domestic reforms only delays progress and puts millions at continued risk.

The way forward demands decisive action rather than rhetoric. The government must phase out traditional brick kilns by introducing cleaner, eco-friendly technologies. Alternatives to crop burning, such as crop residue management and bio-decomposition, need to be promoted through subsidies and education campaigns. Stricter enforcement of vehicular and industrial emissions standards is crucial, with penalties for violators and incentives for those who adopt cleaner technologies. Additionally, large-scale reforestation projects are necessary to restore green spaces and combat urban pollution. Investing in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power can reduce Pakistan’s dependence on fossil fuels, addressing one of the root causes of pollution. These measures, implemented together, can lay the groundwork for a sustainable and healthier future. While regional cooperation with India on cross-border pollution issues remains important, Pakistan cannot afford to hide behind the idea of "smog diplomacy" without first cleaning up its own backyard. Blaming others for shared challenges only delays progress and perpetuates suffering. The AQI of 1900 is not just a statistic; it is a stark reminder of the human cost of environmental neglect. Only by turning promises into action can Pakistan reclaim the air its citizens deserve before the consequences become irreversible.

Information retrieved from CNN, Hindustan Times, and Firstpost