Air Pollution Crisis in Delhi, Lahore, Region

An analysis of GBD 2023 data by IHME and CREA found air pollution was the single largest health risk in Delhi in 2023, linked to about 17,188 deaths or roughly 15% of all deaths, although the central government has questioned a direct causal link. A regional modelling study projects nearly a 10% rise in air‑pollution deaths and an economic loss of about US$591 billion in Southeast Asia by 2050 under a high‑emissions scenario, underscoring climate–pollution connections. Recurring winter smog in Punjab and Lahore — where AQI readings have spiked as high as 412 — shows seasonal crises driven by vehicular emissions, unregulated industries, brick kilns, construction dust and crop‑residue burning, exacerbated by weak enforcement and limited long‑term planning. Former AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria calls air pollution a “silent pandemic,” estimating roughly 8.1 million global deaths in 2024 and warning PM2.5 and ultrafine particles can increase risks of heart attacks, strokes, dementia and cancer. The WHO estimates indoor air pollution causes over 3 million deaths annually, and experts including Manoj Kumar (CREA) urge science‑based, cross‑sector, year‑round measures — from masks and ventilation to rescheduling high‑risk work and stronger policy enforcement — to reduce health and economic burdens.