<p>The Air Quality Index (AQI) in major Pakistani cities like Multan continues to remain poor at alarmingly high levels of over 1900 as a thick blanket of smog covers the region.</p>

<p>According to the news agency ANI, Lahore recorded an AQI of 760, while Multan recorded a AQI of 1914, becoming the most polluted city in the world. The city had crossed the 2000 mark on AQI on Friday, November 8.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/three-year-old-girl-files-petition-against-pakistan-government-as-air-quality-becomes-hazardous-774641">Three-year-old girl files petition against Pakistan government as air quality becomes hazardous</a></strong></p>

<p>Heavy smog in Lahore led to widespread road closures due to poor visibility, which resulted in multiple accidents. According to ANI, at least 9 people were injured in a road collision near Kalashah Kako on GT Road, Mureed K.</p>

<p>Lahore High Court has ordered all markets and trade activities to remain closed ton Sunday (Nov 10), while markets have been directed close&nbsp;by 8 pm on the rest of the days for a week.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan Air Pollution: Air Quality Index In Multan Hovering At 1,900</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-air-pollution-air-quality-index-in-multan-hovering-at-1900-774927/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Authorities failed to control the pollution levels in the cities until now while the residents also did not wear masks. However, the Punjab government is now implementing measures to control the situation and has issued a high alert.</p>

<p>Educational institutions and schools up to higher secondary have been closed until November 17. The government has also ordered museums and parks to remain closed till November 17.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-air-quality-shows-improvement-but-remains-in-very-poor-category-774873">Delhi's air quality shows improvement but remains in 'very poor' category</a></strong></p>

<p>Pakistani cities are dealing with high levels of PM2.5 particles at 947 µg/m3, which is over 180 times as per the WHO limit. WHO recommends 24-hour average exposure should not exceed 15 µg/m3 for over 3-4 in a year. This fine particulate matter in the air can lead to harmful effects for humans and prove hazardous to health.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Air Quality Index (AQI) in major Pakistani cities like Multan continues to remain poor at alarmingly high levels of over 1900 as a thick blanket of smog covers the region.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in major Pakistani cities like Multan continues to remain poor at alarmingly high levels of over 1900 as a thick blanket of smog covers the region. According to the news agency ANI, Lahore recorded an AQI of 760, while Multan recorded a AQI of 1914, becoming the most polluted city in the world. The city had crossed the 2000 mark on AQI on Friday, November 8. Also read | Three-year-old girl files petition against Pakistan government as air quality becomes hazardous Heavy smog in Lahore led to widespread road closures due to poor visibility, which resulted in multiple accidents. According to ANI, at least 9 people were injured in a road collision near Kalashah Kako on GT Road, Mureed K. Lahore High Court has ordered all markets and trade activities to remain closed ton Sunday (Nov 10), while markets have been directed close by 8 pm on the rest of the days for a week. Watch | Pakistan Air Pollution: Air Quality Index In Multan Hovering At 1,900 × Authorities failed to control the pollution levels in the cities until now while the residents also did not wear masks. However, the Punjab government is now implementing measures to control the situation and has issued a high alert. Educational institutions and schools up to higher secondary have been closed until November 17. The government has also ordered museums and parks to remain closed till November 17. Also read | Delhi's air quality shows improvement but remains in 'very poor' category Pakistani cities are dealing with high levels of PM2.5 particles at 947 µg/m3, which is over 180 times as per the WHO limit. WHO recommends 24-hour average exposure should not exceed 15 µg/m3 for over 3-4 in a year. This fine particulate matter in the air can lead to harmful effects for humans and prove hazardous to health. (With inputs from agencies)

Multan’s AQI remains at 1900 as thick smog blankets Pakistan

<p><strong><em>By Mallika Singh</em></strong><br />
<br />
As Delhi’s Air Quality Index recently dropped from ‘Severe Plus’ to ‘Hazardous’ and touched 450 points on Saturday, leaders across the country have politicised the issue, leading to the declaration of a 'public health emergency'.</p>

<p>Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Saturday tweeted that stubble burning in the regions of Punjab and Haryana contributed to 46 per cent of the pollution in Delhi. He further asked the Central Government what they were doing to save North India and to curb stubble burning.</p>

<p>On Friday, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the governments of neighbouring states Haryana and Punjab for the increasing levels of pollution in Delhi. He accused them of forcing the farmers to burn their produce.</p>

<p>Union Environment and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar criticised Kejriwal’s remarks and said that he was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/javadekar-urges-kejriwal-to-find-solutions-to-mitigate-pollution-and-stop-blame-game-259508">“indulging in a blame game”</a>. Javadekar urged him to tackle the problem while stating that the Delhi government did not pay its share in the construction of the Eastern Peripheral Highway which has helped bring down pollution in the city.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is unfortunate that Delhi CM <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArvindKejriwal</a> is politicising the issue of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirPollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirPollution</a> &amp; instigating students to write a letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a> CMs to show them in bad light and present them as villains.<a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4Delhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/UXiwg3h3NQ">pic.twitter.com/UXiwg3h3NQ</a></p>
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrakashJavdekar/status/1190527132197253120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to establish a “consensus without further delay'' to stop pollution.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://cms.wionews.com/india-news/in-view-of-pollution-open-activities-to-be-restricted-in-haryana-schools-dushyant-chautala-259547">Haryana</a> Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the leaders to rise above politics and to take a collective stand to combat the situation “once and for all”. Additionally, he asked the Central Government to take the lead.</p>

<p>Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday tweeted a picture mocking Delhi Tourism quoting ‘Delhi is injurious to health’, for which he faced backlash.</p>

<p>The Delhi government on Friday declared that all schools would be shut till November 5. He added that 50 lakh masks will be distributed among the students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Supreme Court is set to consider a report on Monday drafted by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPPCA)&nbsp;related to the health emergency.</p>

<p>Additionally, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra will hear a plea on Monday regarding the pollution caused in the city due to stubble burning in the neighbouring states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EPPCA, besides declaring a state of public health emergency in Delhi NCR has also imposed a ban on all construction activities till November 5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Delhi is expected to receive <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/delhi-may-receive-rainfall-after-november-6-imd-259507">rainfall after November 6</a> due to an increase in wind speed, which might help bring down the pollution.</p>


By Mallika Singh As Delhi’s Air Quality Index recently dropped from ‘Severe Plus’ to ‘Hazardous’ and touched 450 points on Saturday, leaders across the country have politicised the issue, leading to the declaration of a 'public health emergency'.

By Mallika Singh As Delhi’s Air Quality Index recently dropped from ‘Severe Plus’ to ‘Hazardous’ and touched 450 points on Saturday, leaders across the country have politicised the issue, leading to the declaration of a 'public health emergency'. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Saturday tweeted that stubble burning in the regions of Punjab and Haryana contributed to 46 per cent of the pollution in Delhi. He further asked the Central Government what they were doing to save North India and to curb stubble burning. On Friday, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the governments of neighbouring states Haryana and Punjab for the increasing levels of pollution in Delhi. He accused them of forcing the farmers to burn their produce. Union Environment and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar criticised Kejriwal’s remarks and said that he was “indulging in a blame game”. Javadekar urged him to tackle the problem while stating that the Delhi government did not pay its share in the construction of the Eastern Peripheral Highway which has helped bring down pollution in the city. It is unfortunate that Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal is politicising the issue of #AirPollution & instigating students to write a letter to #Haryana & #Punjab CMs to show them in bad light and present them as villains.@BJP4India @BJP4Delhi pic.twitter.com/UXiwg3h3NQ — Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 2, 2019 × Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to establish a “consensus without further delay'' to stop pollution. Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the leaders to rise above politics and to take a collective stand to combat the situation “once and for all”. Additionally, he asked the Central Government to take the lead. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday tweeted a picture mocking Delhi Tourism quoting ‘Delhi is injurious to health’, for which he faced backlash. The Delhi government on Friday declared that all schools would be shut till November 5. He added that 50 lakh masks will be distributed among the students. The Supreme Court is set to consider a report on Monday drafted by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPPCA) related to the health emergency. Additionally, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra will hear a plea on Monday regarding the pollution caused in the city due to stubble burning in the neighbouring states. The EPPCA, besides declaring a state of public health emergency in Delhi NCR has also imposed a ban on all construction activities till November 5. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Delhi is expected to receive rainfall after November 6 due to an increase in wind speed, which might help bring down the pollution.

Political blame game over Delhi pollution

<p>The smog in Delhi led to at least&nbsp;69 trains being delayed and 22 rescheduled with eight trains cancelled on Monday morning.</p>

<p>The latest Air Quality Index in many places in the national capital was recorded as &quot;hazardous&quot;.</p>

<p>In Delhi, Mandir Marg, Anand&nbsp;Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and Shadipur were at&nbsp;&quot;hazardous&quot; levels.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">According to latest AQI figures, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>&#39;s Mandir Marg at 523, Anand Vihar at 510, Punjabi Bagh at 743, Shadipur at 420; all fall in the &#39;Hazardous&#39; category in the Air Quality Index</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/929896079113428992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The air quality in the city and the adjoining states remains severely polluted under the thick blanket of smog.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, schools in Delhi reopened on Monday after being closed due to severe smog conditions in the past week.</p>

<p>To reduce the pollution level, the Delhi government&nbsp;had ordered the&nbsp;implementation of the odd-even rationing of vehicles from today. However, the decision was dropped by the Delhi&nbsp;government after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-government-should-prove-odd-even-has-worked-else-will-stay-imposition-of-the-rule-ngt-23910" target="_blank">National Green Tribunal</a>&#39;s(NGT) said none of the&nbsp;vehicles drivers would be exempted which including women and government officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Delhi government decided to present a new plan to the NGT on Monday, with the odd-even vehicle plan set to be implemented in the near future.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Schools in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> reopen, after being closed due to severe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#smog</a> conditions in the national capital. Students seen wearing masks, teachers &#39;say collective efforts must be made, closing schools not a solution&#39; <a href="https://t.co/Mi1isF5hhM">pic.twitter.com/Mi1isF5hhM</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/929901531889102848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Meanwhile, the schools in Delhi reopened on Monday after being closed due to severe smog conditions in the past week

The smog in Delhi led to at least 69 trains being delayed and 22 rescheduled with eight trains cancelled on Monday morning. The latest Air Quality Index in many places in the national capital was recorded as "hazardous". In Delhi, Mandir Marg, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and Shadipur were at "hazardous" levels. According to latest AQI figures, #Delhi's Mandir Marg at 523, Anand Vihar at 510, Punjabi Bagh at 743, Shadipur at 420; all fall in the 'Hazardous' category in the Air Quality Index — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2017 × The air quality in the city and the adjoining states remains severely polluted under the thick blanket of smog. Meanwhile, schools in Delhi reopened on Monday after being closed due to severe smog conditions in the past week. To reduce the pollution level, the Delhi government had ordered the implementation of the odd-even rationing of vehicles from today. However, the decision was dropped by the Delhi government after the National Green Tribunal's(NGT) said none of the vehicles drivers would be exempted which including women and government officials. The Delhi government decided to present a new plan to the NGT on Monday, with the odd-even vehicle plan set to be implemented in the near future. Schools in #Delhi reopen, after being closed due to severe #smog conditions in the national capital. Students seen wearing masks, teachers 'say collective efforts must be made, closing schools not a solution' pic.twitter.com/Mi1isF5hhM — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2017 ×

Delhi smog: Schools reopen, several trains delayed