Chief Minister Punjab (CM) Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said that Pakistan and India need to work together to combat smog.
Maryam, while addressing Diwali ceremony in Lahore said that she is thinking of writing a letter to India’s Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in this regard, adding that it is impossible to fight smog without without mutual corr operation.
The smog situation in Punjab has started worsening with the arrival of the winter season. Both Pakistan and India face the issue of smog. During the Diwali season, fireworks in India contribute to increased air pollution, which also affects Pakistan.
Smog Situation Punjab
The AQI in Pakistan has been recorded at “hazardous” levels since mid-October, raising concerns for the health of citizens.
What is the Air Quality Index?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tell us how clean or polluted the air is, with scores ranging from 0 to above 500. It is useful for determining whether the air is breathable without endangering one’s health. The figure which it mainly focuses on is called PM2.5 or air quality index.
PM2.5 musk is a tiny particle present in the atmosphere which is not even visible. These particles can come from vehicular emission, industrial production and combustion gases as well. Due to their tiny size, they are capable of entering the human body through the lungs and causing health issues.
The AQI is not static rather it worsens or improves depending on what time of day it is. In case the level of PM2.5 crosses the limit of 9.0 μg/m³, it is considered harmful.
