Multan: People in Pakistan are experiencing a respiratory emergency. This may sound strange to you, but it’s true. Let us tell you that this emergency was not imposed by any person or government, but on Friday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level in Pakistan’s Punjab province reached the hazardous level of 2000. In this case, people start to have trouble breathing. Meanwhile, other symptoms began to appear, including a burning sensation in the eyes. The government then had to declare a “lockdown” to deal with the situation.
According to Pakistan’s “Dawn News”, the Punjab provincial government has declared the entire state to be on high alert to control pollution. Additionally, other precautionary measures including lockdowns have been implemented. As a result, people are prohibited from visiting all parks and museums in the state until November 17. According to the government, PM concentration was also 2.5. In this case, the pollutants present in the air can cause great harm to people’s health. The content of pollutants in the air reached 947 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) IQAir guidance value by 189.4 times.
Multan air quality index exceeds 2300
According to Global Health, concentrations exceeding 5 micrograms per cubic meter are extremely dangerous to people’s health. But by 10 pm, Multan’s air quality index had crossed 980. That’s more than three times the 300 AQI danger mark. Three air quality index meters have been installed in this Pakistani city. One of them is at the WWF office, another at Shamshad Colony and the third at Multan Army Camp. The air quality index here is 2316, 1635 and 1527 respectively.
Hospital provides separate emergency and OPD for haze-affected people
The smog situation is almost similar in Multan and its surrounding areas of Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal. Visibility on the roads has become extremely low due to smog and pollution. In view of this dangerous air quality index, Nishal Hospital, the largest state hospital in Multan, has set up two counters for people affected by smog. One is emergency and the other is OPD. Multan Deputy Commissioner Wasim Hameed Sindhu announced a brief lockdown on Friday. Traffic police have also begun to crack down on smoking vehicles. The city council has directed strict action against weed burning.
Schools closed, children banned from playing
Given the poor air quality, the situation got so bad that the government closed schools and banned children from playing in outdoor playgrounds. People complained of sore throats and difficulty breathing. As of 12 a.m. in Lahore, Pakistan, the air quality index was 1,000. Yet it is one of the most polluted cities in the world.
A total ban on people leaving their homes
After the lockdown, people were completely banned from visiting parks, zoos, playgrounds, monuments, museums, playgrounds and lakes in the city, Dawn News reported. This restriction also applies to all important cities from Lahore to Nankana Sahib, Gujrawala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Chinikot and Jhang. An official notification warned that action will be taken against those found violating Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Public and private schools in 18 districts have been closed. Pakistan Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the above measures were taken in view of the haze and poor air quality index. Many important roads are also closed. (Arnie)
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