"It's become a physical ordeal just to go outdoors," said Jawaria, 28, a master's student in the Pakistani city.
In recent days, the air quality in Lahore, home to more than 14 million people, dropped to the worst levels on Earth, with pollution levels up to 15 times higher than is deemed healthy and the city enveloped in a thick brown smoke. On the air quality index, "healthy" is 50; last week Lahore's air quality soared above 700.
Over the border in India, the capital, Delhi, was also shrouded in the annual thick toxic smog that marks the unwelcome beginning of "pollution season", affecting more than 25 million people, with air quality remaining in the "very poor" category.
Esta historia es de la edición November 02, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 02, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
From voting day to the inauguration A complete guide to the US election
The 60th US presidential election will decide the 47th president - widely held to be the most powerful job in the world - and 50th vice-president.
Europe's view: Even far-right voters want a win for Harris
Most western Europeans - and even many who vote for far-right parties would like Kamala Harris to win next week, polling suggests.
Time's up for old adage that claims apes could replicate Shakespeare
Mathematicians have called into question the adage that a monkey typing randomly at a keyboard for long enough would produce the complete works of Shakespeare.
Thomas Wei Huang named as boy jailed for private school hammer attack
A 17-year-old boy sentenced to life for attacking two sleeping pupils and a teacher with hammers at a private school can be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions.
Money hacks How to set up and maintain a happy house-share
The main things people disagree on when they share a property are \"cleaning, noise, bills and other people's other halves\", says Matt Hutchinson, a director of the property-sharing website Spareroom.
Budget checklist What you need to do now to make the most of your cash
Rachel Reeves's changes could make a difference to the tax you pay. Rupert Jones, Hilary Osborne and Shane Hickey report
Superstar of cuteness Hello Kitty turns 50 and makes $4bn a year
She sports a signature red bow; her hobbies are travelling, reading and baking, and - despite celebrating her 50th birthday - she stands at only five apples tall.
House price rises slow but stamp duty move may lead to 'buyer rush'
The growth in UK house prices slowed unexpectedly last month, Nationwide said, as it warned buyers to expect a rush in transactions early next year prompted by changes to stamp duty rules in the budget.
'Everything is expensive' No end to price pressures for your average family
I sort of assumed the cost of living crisis would be temporary and things would go back to how they were before,\" said Jess Daly. \"Maybe I was being naive. Everything is just expensive now.
US adds only 12,000 jobs in final report before election, as hurricanes and strike bite
The US added only 12,000 jobs last month, less than a tenth of the number economists had forecast, a figure affected by the strike at Boeing and two hurricanes, in a final snapshot of the employment market before the country chooses a new president.
