Record-high pollution sickens thousands in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Record-high air contamination successful Pakistan’s taste superior of Lahore is sending much group to hospitals and backstage clinics, doctors said Wednesday arsenic authorities warned a complete lockdown could beryllium imminent if residents neglect to don look masks and travel different guidance related to smog.

The informing came aft residents retired connected nan streets successful Lahore, which has a organization of 14 million, were seen overwhelmingly without masks. Doctors opportunity astir group are complaining of either having a cough aliases that they consciousness their eyes are burning.

“Tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory diseases were treated astatine hospitals and clinics successful a week,” said Salman Kazmi, vice president of nan Pakistan Medical Association.

You tin spot group coughing whenever you go, but they still hardly deterioration look masks, he said.

Lahore remained nan world’s astir polluted metropolis Wednesday morning, pinch air-quality scale hitting a grounds precocious of complete 1,100. Anything complete 300 is considered hazardous to health.

A toxic smog has shrouded nan metropolis since past month.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a elder curate successful nan Punjab state asked group to deterioration look masks to debar a complete lockdown successful nan city. Lahore is nan provincial capital.

Authorities successful nan metropolis person already banned barbecuing nutrient without filters, arsenic good arsenic nan usage of motorized rickshaws — and wedding halls must adjacent by 10 p.m.

The authorities said it was besides looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat nan pollution.