Smog continues to affect different parts of Punjab and Sindh as Lahore again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Apart from Lahore, extremely poor air quality continues to affect Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and other cities of Punjab.  

Karachi was ranked as the world’s ninth most polluted city.

On the other hand, increase has been noticed in eye, chest and throat infections in people. 

Health experts have advised people to use masks in order to protect themselves from the hazardous effects of higher pollution levels. 

Smog was not an issue in Lahore and other parts of Punjab only a few years ago. 

But unchecked emission of smoke from vehicles, factories’ chimneys, brick kilns as well as from the burning of crops’ stubble has led to a situation where this annual weather phenomenon has even become life-threatening.  

Apart from that, fumes being released into the air from brick kilns, factories and stubble burning in neighbouring India have also exacerbated the situation since winds bring these pollutants to Pakistan. 

Although, the Punjab government makes claims time and again that it is taking steps to control the situation, it has not achieved any breakthrough on this front so far.