Smog crisis in Pakistan and India: NASA images reveal threat
Dense smog hovering over Pakistan's Punjab province and much of India is visible from space, as seen in NASA's satellite images.
6:03 AM EST, November 12, 2024
Asia is grappling with intense air pollution. Both Pakistan and India 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 vast areas of India, including regions beyond the capital, Delhi.
CNN emphasizes 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 searching for ways to address the smog problem. They may decide to induce rain to artificially improve air quality.
Schools and government institutions were closed until November 17. On Friday, provincial authorities shut down parks, museums, zoos, and historic 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.
