Islamabad, Nov 12: Satellite Images Show Alarming Environmental Changes Across Pakistan. Lahore has been facing a significant smog crisis since last month, with the dense, harmful haze now detectable from space in remarkable satellite imagery. The images, taken by NASA’s Worldview tool, show the thick layers of pollution enveloping northern India and Pakistan, as reported by CNN.
In these images, cities such as Lahore and Multan are shrouded in a dark, nearly impenetrable smog, obscuring streets and buildings. The pollution levels have escalated to the extent that the previously visible green landscapes are now concealed beneath a grey-brown veil.
Similarly, air quality in New Delhi, India, is experiencing comparable conditions, with both cities appearing under heavy smog in NASA’s satellite imagery. Before (August 31, 2024): A NASA image shows clear skies over Pakistan’s Punjab and northwest India.
After (November 10, 2024): A NASA image illustrates thick smog covering Punjab and northwest India. According to the air monitoring organization IQAir, Lahore was designated as the world’s most polluted city on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) categorized as “very hazardous.” New Delhi and Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, ranked second and third in global air pollution standings, respectively.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a serious warning, indicating that the toxic air in Punjab presents significant health dangers, particularly for over 11 million young children. Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, expressed profound concern, emphasizing that numerous children and adults have been hospitalized in cities most affected by the smog.
