The smog crisis in Punjab has escalated to critical levels, severely affecting public health across the province. On Saturday alone, the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department reported 61,024 cases of respiratory illnesses, including 4,211 asthma cases, 2,105 ischemic heart disease cases, 181 strokes, and 385 conjunctivitis cases.
Over the past month, approximately 1.92 million individuals have sought medical attention for smog-related health issues. Hospitals across the province treated 125,520 asthma patients, 60,966 ischemic heart disease cases, 5,701 stroke patients, and 14,007 conjunctivitis cases during this period.
In just the past week, 455,283 respiratory disease cases were recorded, along with 31,034 asthma cases, 13,479 ischemic heart disease cases, 1,360 strokes, and 4,121 conjunctivitis cases, highlighting the intensifying strain on the healthcare system.
Lahore: The Epicenter of the Crisis
Lahore remains the most affected city in Punjab, with alarming health statistics. Over the last month, the city reported:
- 132,569 respiratory disease cases
- 6,613 asthma cases
- 13,585 ischemic heart disease cases
- 706 strokes
- 3,269 conjunctivitis cases
On Saturday alone, Lahore documented 3,690 respiratory cases, 209 asthma cases, 552 ischemic heart disease cases, 56 strokes, and 63 conjunctivitis cases, further demonstrating the acute impact of the smog.
Government Response
The Punjab government has assured citizens that hospitals are adequately equipped to handle the surge in smog-related health cases. However, the scale of the crisis demands urgent measures to mitigate pollution levels and protect public health.
