2024-11-23
23 分钟Imagine waking up in the morning and going outside to discover that the air is so toxic that it makes your eyes water and can make it hard to breathe. This is happening to millions of people in South Asia right now, especially across Lahore in Pakistan and Delhi in India, and it is due to a thick smog that can be seen from space. Residents in both cities discuss the difficulties of trying to go about everyday life while negotiating lockdowns and also trying to get food and continuing to work. Host Mark Lowen also hears from three students aged 13-22 about the impact on their education, as well as their mental and physical health.
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Hello, I'm Mark Lohan and welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service.
We bring people together to share their experiences and this time we hear from residents of Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore and the Indian capital Delhi, as they experience the toxic effects of smog in Pakistan and India.
In recent weeks, dangerous levels of poor air quality has caused authorities to close a number of schools, universities and businesses in India and Pakistan.
We hear from residents and students about what it's like to live, work and study in a city where going outside could damage your health.
Everything is so grey and bleak.
I can't even see the sun anymore and not even like five minutes in.
My throat starts burning, my eyes are burning.
I can't even go out without having to wear a mask.
Lahore and Delhi often experience smog at this time of year.
It's caused by a combination of agricultural waste, burning, industrial emissions and stagnant weather that produces a thick, low lying layer of smoke, gases and chemicals.
But recently, air pollution in both cities has climbed to some such high levels that smog can even be seen from space.
And it's causing a lot of concern.
Delhi has recorded levels 15 times above the air quality index level, or AQI that the world Health Organization considers satisfactory for breathing.
Meanwhile, poor air quality in Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan has also reached record levels and toxic air is disrupting everyday life.
It used to be known as the City of Gardens, but now many of its parks are closed.
Here's how the smog is affecting some of the people that live, live and work there, starting with rickshaw driver Asif Ali.
We are compelled to go out because we have children.