PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has made a lighthearted suggestion for those suffering from the severe smog in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: relocate to Karachi. His comment came amid the escalating air quality crisis in northern and central Pakistan, where cities like Peshawar, Multan, and Lahore have seen hazardous levels of air pollution.
On November 12, Bilawal shared real-time air quality index (AQI) data from across the country on his X account, showing Peshawar with an AQI of 591, Lahore at 479, and Rawalpindi at 302, all considered dangerous. In contrast, Karachi’s AQI stood at 78, categorized as acceptable. Despite this, Karachi’s air quality still falls within the “Poor” range, which prompted criticism from residents who pointed out the city’s own issues, such as poor infrastructure and chronic water shortages.
The ongoing smog crisis, exacerbated by airborne toxins from India, has had severe health impacts in cities across Punjab, with Lahore consistently ranking as the world’s most polluted city. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarms about the risk to over 11 million children in the region.
Bilawal’s suggestion sparked mixed reactions, with some Karachi residents pointing out that despite the city’s relatively better AQI, it still faces significant urban challenges. Meanwhile, the smog continues to disrupt daily life in affected areas, causing respiratory problems and eye infections.
