Satellite Images Reveal Shocking View of Pakistan

Lahore has been grappling with a severe smog crisis since last month, with the dense, toxic haze now visible from space in striking satellite images. The images, captured by NASA’s Worldview tool, reveal the thick clouds of pollution blanketing northern India and Pakistan, according to a CNN report.

In the images, cities like Lahore and Multan appear veiled in a dark, almost impenetrable smog, obscuring streets and buildings. The pollution levels have worsened to the point that the once-visible green landscapes are now hidden beneath a grey-brown shroud.

Meanwhile, air quality in New Delhi, India, faces similar conditions, with both cities appearing under thick smog in NASA’s satellite visuals.

According to the air monitoring firm IQAir, Lahore was ranked the world’s most polluted city on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) level marked as “very hazardous.” New Delhi and Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed closely, occupying the second and third positions in global air pollution rankings.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a grave warning, stating that the toxic air in Punjab poses serious health risks, especially for over 11 million young children. UNICEF’s Pakistan representative, Abdullah Fadil, expressed deep concern, highlighting that countless children and adults have been hospitalized in cities hit hardest by the smog.