As winter approaches, Lahore, Pakistan, braces for what residents call its fifth season, marked by the suffocating haze of smog. Workers, children, and the elderly face worsening air quality without steady access to clean air, purifiers, or the comfort of staying indoors.
To combat this crisis, the Punjab government has implemented several measures ranging from the introduction of vehicle emissions testing to the usage of AI in industrial oversight. While these policies show promise, residents continue to have fading confidence in the possibility of a smog-free Lahore.
Reporting from Lahore and surrounding areas, journalist Alina Ajaz explores how the city's battle against smog is influenced by social class, governmental regulations, and the need to survive. Through interviews with government representatives, climate experts, kiln workers, and student activists, this reporting project investigates the human cost of air pollution and the initiatives being taken to bring about change.
