LAHORE: Around two million people visited medical facilities across Punjab with breathing problems and other respiratory diseases in a month as record-breaking smog choked the province.

The Punjab healthcare department data obtained by Dawn on Thursday showed that 19,34,030 cases were reported across the province, with 126,230 in Lahore.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, 68,917 cases of different respiratory diseases, including breathing issues and chest infections, were reported across Punjab.

Of these cases, 6,236 were reported from Lahore, where the average air quality reading was 1,100 on AQI till 9pm on Thursday.

Dense smog, caused by toxic pollutants, has engulfed several cities in Punjab over the past few weeks, with Lahore and Multan being the worst hit. The AQI reading in Multan has already crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record for air pollution.

According to the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI), the pollution of PM2.5 — fine particulate matter in the air that causes the most damage to health — increased by 25 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. The average pollution level also went up by 23pc compared to last year.

According to experts, exposure to high levels of toxic pollutants not only causes respiratory diseases but also leads to life-altering problems like depression and impacts the growth of children. It also causes oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells and may lay the foundation for other serious diseases, including cancer.

The smog can damage lung tissues and is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses like asthma, as per the experts.

This is the first time that the Punjab health department has consolidated data to estimate the impact of smog.

The data included the tally of five leading diseases: respiratory issues, asthma, ischemic heart diseases, stroke and conjunctivitis.

The data doesn’t give the complete picture of the adverse health impact caused by smog as it only included reported cases. Many people suffering from illnesses don’t visit hospitals to seek doctors’ advice and instead self-medicate at home or visit informal dispensaries.

As per the figures, 4,646 people complained of severe asthma, 257 had ischemic heart disease, 134 suffered a stroke, and 701 conjunctivitis cases were reported across Punjab during the last 24 hours.

In Lahore, the tally was 496, 176, 158 and 263, respectively.

The seven-day data showed 463,845 reported cases of respiratory diseases, 30,414 of asthma, 2,166 of ischemic heart disease, 1,330 of stroke and 3,094 cases of conjunctivitis in Punjab.

In the past 30 days, 119,533 complained of asthma, 13,773 of ischemic heart disease, 5,184 of stroke and 11,197 people suffered from conjunctivitis across Punjab.

The government’s measures of shutting schools, cracking down on vehicles emitting excessive smoke, and prohibition on barbecues and visits to recreational places have had no impact on smog.

Citizens have been advised to spend maximum time indoors. How­ever, experts say that without air purifiers, toxic pollutants can harm people inside their homes as well.

At a time when the cost of living has already soared to record levels, affording air purifiers has become a luxury.

These devices cost between Rs25,000 to over Rs150,000. Their filters, which need to be replaced each season, cost between Rs2,500 to Rs10,000.