As people in Punjab struggle to breathe amid worsening smog problems, Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz reiterated her call for “climate diplomacy” on neighboring India to address the worsening phenomenon affecting residents on both sides of the border.

Describing the issue as a humanitarian crisis requiring joint action while speaking at an event in Lahore on Wednesday, the provincial chief executive said he may write to his Indian counterpart and reiterate his commitment to “smoke diplomacy”.

With the deterioration of air quality in the city, citizens continued to complain of burning eyes, throat irritation, cough and other health problems.

A top state official made similar comments earlier this month as Pakistan and arch-rival India continue to grapple with dangerously high pollution levels from seasonal smog.

He also said that smog is a humanitarian problem, not a political one, and called for collaborative efforts to effectively combat the problem. “If both Punjabs do not join hands, we cannot fight the smoke.”

Relations between India and Pakistan have gone through periods of thaw but have been largely frozen since they downgraded diplomatic relations in tit-for-tat moves in 2019.

When cold weather begins to take effect, pollution reaches a spiral level. According to media reports, Lahore and Delhi are among the most polluted cities in the world.

Air quality deteriorates during the colder months as temperature inversions keep pollution close to the ground and fill hospital wards with patients with respiratory problems.

Increasing air pollution could shorten per capita life expectancy by more than five years in South Asia, one of the world’s most polluted regions, according to a report published last year that highlighted the increasing burden of hazardous air on health.

While Lahore occupied the first position earlier this morning, it is now second only to Delhi, which is in the hazardous category with very unhealthy air quality.

However, despite their tense ties, the ice was broken between the countries when Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit earlier this month, according to an Indian journalist.

Minority Card incentives

Additionally, Punjab CM Maryam, in her speech at the ceremony, emphasized her deep respect and commitment to the welfare of minorities by treating them as if they were her honour.

He said that the state government will launch a statewide Minority Card on December 20 for eligible families.

Wishing the Hindu community a happy Diwali, Maryam announced that 1,400 Hindu families will be gifted 15,000 rupees per family.