On the streets of Pakistan's second biggest city, smog stings eyes and burns throats. Inside homes, few people can afford air purifiers to limit the damage of toxic particles that seep through doors and windows.

Lahore -- a city of 14 million people stuffed with factories on the border with India -- regularly ranks among the world's most polluted cities, but it has hit record levels this month.&nbsp;

Schools have closed in the main cities of Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital, until November 17 in a bid to lower children's exposure to the pollution, especially during the morning commute when it is often at its highest.

"The children are constantly coughing, they have constant allergies. In schools we saw that most of the children were falling sick," said Rafia Iqbal, a 38-year-old primary school teacher in the city that borders India.

Her husband Muhammad Safdar, a 41-year-old advertising professional, said the level of pollution "is making daily living impossible".

"We cannot move around, we cannot go outside, we can do nothing at all," he told AFP.

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According to the international Air Quality Index Scale, an index value of 300 or higher results is "hazardous" to health and Pakistan has regularly tipped over 1,000 on the scale.&nbsp;

In Multan, another city of several million people some 350 kilometres away, the AQI level passed 2,000 last week -- a staggering height never seen before by incredulous residents.&nbsp;

Access to parks, zoos, playgrounds, historic monuments, museums and recreational areas will be banned until November 17 and tuk-tuks with polluting two-stroke engines, along with restaurants that operate barbecues without filters have been banned in Lahore "hot-spots".

Air purifiers are luxury for most families, with the cheapest priced at around $90, with the added cost of replacing filters every few months in such extreme pollution.

Safdar and Iqbal do not have air purifiers and instead try to contain their children to one room.

"Preventive measures should have been taken. It's a yearly occurrence," Safdar said of the government.

"Obviously there is something missing in their solution."

<h2>- Cloud of poison -</h2>

A mix of low-grade fuel emissions from factories and vehicles, exacerbated by agricultural stubble burning, blanket the city each winter, trapped by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds.

The WHO says that air pollution can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

It is particularly punishing for children and babies, and the elderly.&nbsp;

Last year, the Punjab government tested artificial rain to try to overcome the smog, and this year, trucks with water cannons sprayed the streets -- with no results.

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Special smog counters to triage patients have been established at clinics across the province, with 900 people admitted to hospital in Lahore alone on Tuesday.

Doctor Qurat ul Ain, a hospital doctor for 15 years, witnesses the damage from an emergency room in Lahore. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"This year's smog is much more than previous years and the number of patients suffering from its effects is greater too," she told AFP.

Many arrive with laboured breathing or coughing fits and reddened eyes, often the elderly, children and young men who have breathed in the toxic air while on the back of motorbikes.

"We tell people not to go out and otherwise to wear a mask. We tell them not to touch their eyes with their hands, especially children," she adds.

For days the concentration of polluting micro-particles PM2.5 in Punjab has been dozens of times higher than that deemed tolerable by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Doctor Alia Haider, also a climate activist, is calling for awareness campaigns for patients who often do not know the dangers of smog.

Children from poor neighbourhoods, she said, are the first victims because they live all year round with pollutants of different types.

"We are stuck in our own poison," she said. It's like a cloud of gas over the city."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

On the streets of Pakistan's second biggest city, smog stings eyes and burns throats. Inside homes, few people can afford air purifiers to limit the damage of toxic particles that seep through doors and windows.

On the streets of Pakistan's second biggest city, smog stings eyes and burns throats. Inside homes, few people can afford air purifiers to limit the damage of toxic particles that seep through doors and windows. Lahore -- a city of 14 million people stuffed with factories on the border with India -- regularly ranks among the world's most polluted cities, but it has hit record levels this month. Schools have closed in the main cities of Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital, until November 17 in a bid to lower children's exposure to the pollution, especially during the morning commute when it is often at its highest. "The children are constantly coughing, they have constant allergies. In schools we saw that most of the children were falling sick," said Rafia Iqbal, a 38-year-old primary school teacher in the city that borders India. Her husband Muhammad Safdar, a 41-year-old advertising professional, said the level of pollution "is making daily living impossible". "We cannot move around, we cannot go outside, we can do nothing at all," he told AFP. Also Read | Canadian Police arrest Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla, close aide of Nijjar According to the international Air Quality Index Scale, an index value of 300 or higher results is "hazardous" to health and Pakistan has regularly tipped over 1,000 on the scale. In Multan, another city of several million people some 350 kilometres away, the AQI level passed 2,000 last week -- a staggering height never seen before by incredulous residents. Access to parks, zoos, playgrounds, historic monuments, museums and recreational areas will be banned until November 17 and tuk-tuks with polluting two-stroke engines, along with restaurants that operate barbecues without filters have been banned in Lahore "hot-spots". Air purifiers are luxury for most families, with the cheapest priced at around $90, with the added cost of replacing filters every few months in such extreme pollution. Safdar and Iqbal do not have air purifiers and instead try to contain their children to one room. "Preventive measures should have been taken. It's a yearly occurrence," Safdar said of the government. "Obviously there is something missing in their solution." - Cloud of poison - A mix of low-grade fuel emissions from factories and vehicles, exacerbated by agricultural stubble burning, blanket the city each winter, trapped by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds. The WHO says that air pollution can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It is particularly punishing for children and babies, and the elderly. Last year, the Punjab government tested artificial rain to try to overcome the smog, and this year, trucks with water cannons sprayed the streets -- with no results. Also Read | Trump warns Putin against escalating Ukraine war in post-election call Special smog counters to triage patients have been established at clinics across the province, with 900 people admitted to hospital in Lahore alone on Tuesday. Doctor Qurat ul Ain, a hospital doctor for 15 years, witnesses the damage from an emergency room in Lahore. "This year's smog is much more than previous years and the number of patients suffering from its effects is greater too," she told AFP. Many arrive with laboured breathing or coughing fits and reddened eyes, often the elderly, children and young men who have breathed in the toxic air while on the back of motorbikes. "We tell people not to go out and otherwise to wear a mask. We tell them not to touch their eyes with their hands, especially children," she adds. For days the concentration of polluting micro-particles PM2.5 in Punjab has been dozens of times higher than that deemed tolerable by the World Health Organization (WHO). Doctor Alia Haider, also a climate activist, is calling for awareness campaigns for patients who often do not know the dangers of smog. Children from poor neighbourhoods, she said, are the first victims because they live all year round with pollutants of different types. "We are stuck in our own poison," she said. It's like a cloud of gas over the city." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish

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.

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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&nbsp;by 8 pm on the rest of the days for a week.

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan Air Pollution: Air Quality Index In Multan Hovering At 1,900

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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.

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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)

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

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Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish

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