According to IQ Air, Karachi currently has the third-worst air quality in the entire globe.
According to ARY News, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, the interim Chief Minister of Sindh, has called for the widespread use of masks due to the worsening air quality in Karachi.
He highlights the importance of mask wear among students at educational institutions in order to protect themselves from health problems caused by smog in a statement released from the Chief Minister’s House.
The chief minister advocates a societal move away from infrastructure that is car-centric, going beyond individual actions. In an effort to address the underlying causes of the rising levels of air pollution, he supports funding public transportation and pedestrian-friendly options, as reported by ARY News.
According to IQ Air, Karachi is currently the third-worst city in the world for air quality.
This event comes at the same time when Punjab and other regions of the country are experiencing extreme smog, with Lahore consistently leading international air pollution statistics.
The Air Quality Index (AQI), which is classified as unhealthy, shows concerning levels that range from 151-200. An AQI of more than 300 is regarded as exceedingly dangerous, and an AQI of 201 to 300 is believed to be much more detrimental.
Winter makes air quality problems worse by settling carbon- and smoke-laden, thick air particles. Pollution from sources such as burning crop residues, industrial pollutants, and burning of coal, trash, oil, or tires has an ongoing effect from the beginning of winter until the end of the year.
The argument in favor of mask use is consistent with more general worries about public health and environmental sustainability. According to ARY News, the need for preventive measures and sustainable urban development is growing as areas struggle with rising pollution levels.