As per reports, following are the latest updates on air pollution in Pakistan’s Punjab Province as of Thursday (07 November):

• Lahore is expected to have a minimum Air Quality Index (AQI) of 700 till Friday (08 November), with several areas likely to experience AQIs in higher ranges. Despite poor air quality, observers noted no significant decrease in traffic in Lahore, and have raised concerns over limited adherence to SOPs by the citizens.
• The worsening air quality in the province has led to increase in health-related issues, with the Punjab Health Department confirming more than 55,000 cases of eye infections in October, with over 7,000 cases of eye infections in Lahore alone. The department added that more than 6,000 people reported nose, ear, and throat problems in October.
• To deal with the air pollution situation, the Department of Environment has set up a “Smog War Room” comprising officers from various departments, such as the Department of Agriculture, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), and civic and transport authorities.
• Marriyam Aurangzeb, Senior Minister in the Punjab Government issued a statement urging for cooperation by India to tackle the air pollution crisis. In previous statements, she had alleged that pollution sources in India were responsible for the toxic smog in Punjab.