Smog affecting over 11m Punjab kids, warns UNICEF 

ISLAMABAD: Calling for urgent measures to curb smog in Punjab, UNICEF Pakistan has warned that the toxic air continues to affect over 11 million children under five in Punjab’s hardest-hit districts.

UNICEF expressed grave concern over the severe air pollution impacting young children, particularly in Lahore and Multan, where air quality levels last week were reported to be more than 100 times above World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Hundreds, including young children, have been admitted to hospitals, and the pollution has become so intense it is detectable in the affected regions via satellite imagery.

"Before these unprecedented pollution levels, air pollution accounted for 12% of deaths in children under five in Pakistan," says UNICEF Representative Abdullah Fadil, warning that the long-term impact of this year’s smog could be catastrophic, especially for children and expectant mothers.

He says that young children are especially vulnerable as they breathe more rapidly, inhale higher amounts of pollutants, and have developing lungs and immune systems. Air pollution not only affects their respiratory health but can also impair brain development, leading to lasting cognitive issues.

Pregnant women exposed to high pollution levels also face increased risks of preterm births and low birth weight in newborns, he warns.

School closures in affected areas, expected to last until mid-November, have further disrupted the education of 16 million children in Punjab. Pakistan, which already grapples with an education crisis involving 26.2 million out-of-school children, cannot afford additional setbacks.

UNICEF has urged the government to prioritise children’s health and education, calling for immediate actions to ensure clean air and protect future generations.