As October approaches, winter smog season descends upon Pakistan, transforming the country’s cities into toxic landscapes that force millions of residents to suffocate in a haze of pollutants. Lahore, a cultural centre, now frequently tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities. The situation is not merely seasonal; it is a year-round disaster driven by agricultural burning, vehicular pollution, and industrial emissions. Smog episodes are becoming increasingly intense over time due to rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns fuelled by climate change. Pakistan’s smog epidemic and climate catastrophe are a stark reality: cities are suffocating under toxic air, the economy is vulnerable to collapse from climate-related disasters, and people’s health is rapidly deteriorating. The impact is far-reaching, threatening economic stability and public well-being, with severe consequences and long-term effects on the country’s development and prosperity.

PM Shehbaz to visit Malaysia from October 5–7 to boost bilateral ties

Pakistan stands at a dangerous crossroad where climate change, environmental neglect, and policy paralysis meet. In the past few years alone, torrential rains have submerged major cities, disrupting life and displacing millions, while at the very same time, massive parts of the country suffer from crippling water scarcity. There is an apparent paradox: a land that is starving for water while drowning in floods. These are not arbitrary natural occurrences; rather, they are the direct results of a climate emergency that is spiralling out of control and that we keep ignoring until a catastrophe occurs.

Pakistan is on the brink of climate change, facing frequent and intense extreme weather events that threaten its economy, infrastructure, and lives. Over 33........

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