SMOG has enveloped most of Pakistan and India, causing road accidents and respiratory problems.
Pakistani meteorologist Mohammad Hanif said yesterday that the pollution, caused by the burning of crops and emissions from factories and brick kilns in Pakistan and neighbouring India, was expected to linger until the middle of the month.
Average air pollution in Pakistan’s major cities is about four times higher than the recommended World Health Organization limits.
Similar problems have been reported in the Indian capital, New Delhi, where air quality was rated “very poor” on Saturday.
Some private schools in New Delhi have suspended sports and outdoor activities.
India’s Supreme Court banned the sale of fireworks in New Delhi ahead of last month’s Hindu Diwali festival in an attempt to curb air pollution in the notoriously smoggy city.
Though reports said air quality was better than last year, pollution levels in the capital hit 18 times the healthy limit a night after the festival, as many ignored the ban.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here