Over 11m children at risk due to intense smog in Punjab, UNICEF warns

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the severe air pollution in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which is putting the health of over 11 million children under the age of five at risk.

The intense smog, particularly in cities like Lahore and Multan, has reached record levels, causing widespread health concerns.

Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, called for urgent action to address the air pollution crisis and safeguard children’s health.

In a statement, UNICEF expressed concern over the hazardous air quality, which saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) in seven cities of Punjab exceed 400—a level categorized as hazardous to human health.

“I am extremely concerned about the well-being of young children, who are forced to breathe polluted, toxic air. Over 11 million children under five years of age are exposed to this smog in the worst-affected districts,” said Fadil.

He also highlighted that, prior to the current pollution surge, air pollution was already responsible for around 12 percent of deaths among children under five in Pakistan.

In addition to respiratory health issues, Fadil pointed out that the pollution was contributing to an increase in premature births and low birth weights.

The long-term health consequences for children, particularly those in high-risk areas, are expected to worsen without effective intervention.

The smog crisis has also had a disruptive impact on education in the region.

With schools closed in many areas of Punjab last week due to the poor air quality, nearly 16 million children have experienced interruptions in their education, exacerbating the ongoing challenges faced by the country’s education sector.

UNICEF has called on local authorities to prioritize air quality management and implement measures to protect vulnerable children from the harmful effects of air pollution.