Smog, a serious hazard to human life

The ever growing smog has now become an existential hazard for citizenry life in major cities including Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Karachi, while this deadly phenomena is shaping into catastrophe in small cities and towns throughout the country. Recently, the metropolitan government ordered all private and public schools along with markets and factories to remain closed on Wednesday due to the worsening smog situation in the Provincial Capital. The public offices will operate with 50% strengths and the Punjab government was mulling to impose coronavirus-like restrictions in Lahore metropolitan area to control the worsening effects of smog that causes serious risks to citizenry life.

Smog, a combination of smoke and fog, can have several negative effects on both the environment and human health. That poisonous polluted air puts harmful effects on respiratory system, leading to conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and aggravated allergies along with causing serious Cardiovascular Issues in human beings and animals. Smog is also hazardous for vegetation, decreases crop yields, and contributes to acid rain, damaging forests, lakes, and other ecosystems along with reducing visibility, impairing vision and the likelihood of accidents on the road and in aviation.