The ongoing smog crisis is not only harming human health but is also taking a toll on Lahore’s famed gardens and green spaces.
Once a vibrant "city of gardens," Lahore’s greenery now appears faded and covered in layers of dust, as highlighted in a report by Usman Aleem.
Experts explain that thick layers of smog and dust on leaves are hindering photosynthesis, which is vital for plant health and oxygen production. Environmentalist Sameera Jahan warns that climate change, pollution, and lack of rain are severely impacting the city’s “oxygen factories.”
Citizens express their longing for fresh, clean air as they witness their environment’s degradation.
The Director General of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Tahir Watto, noted that tree washing is being carried out daily to help alleviate the dust buildup.
The natural freshness of Lahore’s trees, once sustained by morning dew, now struggles under the effects of severe pollution, highlighting an urgent need for environmental action.