Lahore's rising air pollution could raise death risk for COVID-19 patients: Report

(Karachi) Switzerland-based air quality information platform, IQAir, has warned that rising air pollution in Lahore could cause serious health complications for people infected with coronavirus, a report published in Arab News stated. Lahore has an air quality index of 306 which is considered hazardous.

As per the report, Lahore has been placed on top position in world ranking among most polluted cities by IQAir.

It stated that international studies carried out recently pointed out links between long-term exposure to pollution and COVID-19 death rates. "Coronavirus patients in areas with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die from the infection than patients in cleaner cities," the report read.

Indicating factors that contribute to air pollution, the IQAir survey blamed the emissions from vehicle and industrial units, smoke from brick kilns, the burning of crop residue and general waste, and dust from construction sites as key in increase in air pollution levels.

Besides, it also holds large scale cutting of trees and construction of new roads and buildings responsible for toxic air problem in the city.

Commenting on the alarming situation, WWF's Pakistan representative Nazifa Butt said: "Pakistan was ranked the second most polluted country in the world by the 2019 AirVisual report; it’s unfortunate that we have continued to witness crop burning, poorly maintained vehicles on roads and operational brick kilns even after the Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s order on smog.”

She added, "“The rising air quality index can cause significant health care issues and result in respiratory illnesses. Smog 2020 may turn out to be quite tough for COVID-19 patients.”

Similarly, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director Operations Nisar Ahmad Sani said the organization is closely monitoring the smog situation and issuing daily reports. “Strict action is being taken against the violators of environment laws. Factories and outlets have been sealed and police reports lodged,” he mentioned.

"The Punjab government has also noted with concern that smog compounds the miseries of COVID-19 patients and delays their recovery," Sani said.