KARACHI: Thick clouds of dust and smog have blanketed Karachi in recent days, creating what meteorologists describe as “hazardous” air conditions and prompting health experts to warn of rising respiratory infections across the city.
With the minimum temperature dropping from 20°C earlier in the week to 17°C on Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that Karachi is now facing severe smog — a form of air pollution that reduces visibility and poses significant health risks. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the city ranked the fourth most polluted in the world on Friday, with conditions declared “hazardous” to human health.
Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari explained that the dense haze over the city was not fog but smog, formed when pollutants linger in stagnant air due to low wind speeds. “In winters, cold weather slows down the movement of air pollutants, and low wind speed fails to disperse them, leading to the build-up of smog,” he said. “For fog to occur, we need high moisture content in the air, which is currently lacking.”
He attributed the worsening air quality to dust clouds generated by widespread construction activity. “Children are particularly vulnerable to smog’s harmful effects,” Mr Laghari warned.
“There is no doubt that dust allergy has become a major problem in Karachi and children have been the worst hit,” said senior paediatrician Dr Ved Vaswani.https://t.co/WG8Qsho9j1
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Health experts have urged citizens, especially children and the elderly, to wear face masks, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, and eat nutritious food to strengthen immunity.
Senior paediatrician Dr Ved Vaswani, associated with Burhani Hospital and Al-Mustafa Medical Centre, said hospitals were witnessing a sharp rise in respiratory infections. “We have seen a surge in chest infections, with many children developing pneumonia requiring hospitalisation,” he said.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representative Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro echoed these concerns, warning that delayed treatment could lead to complications. “Symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, and difficulty breathing should be addressed promptly,” he advised. Dr Shoro also cautioned against consuming junk food and emphasised keeping children warm, particularly at night when temperatures drop further.
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Authorities have yet to announce any emergency measures, but environmentalists continue to call for stricter regulation of construction and vehicular emissions contributing to Karachi’s worsening air quality.
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