According to UNICEF’s statement, air pollution levels in Lahore and other districts recently soared to 100 times above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safety guidelines.
Abdullah A. Fadil, UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, expressed deep concern, saying, “This smog is so intense that it can be seen from space.”
He warned of the harmful impact on young children, who are forced to inhale the polluted, toxic air.
The air quality crisis has disrupted education for approximately 1.6 million children across Punjab, UNICEF reported, urging Pakistan’s government to take immediate action.
“Children’s rights to health and education must be safeguarded,” Fadil stressed, adding that the effects of prolonged smog exposure could have severe health consequences for children and pregnant women alike.
UNICEF is calling on Pakistan to implement urgent measures to combat air pollution and protect the most vulnerable, emphasizing that immediate intervention is essential to prevent lasting harm.
