Karachi's Toxic Air Fuels Respiratory Disease Surge

• Karachi faces a severe health emergency this winter due to sharply worsening air quality, causing a rise in respiratory infections.
• Health experts link the crisis to the government's failure to enforce environmental standards and control emissions.
• Hospitals report a significant increase in respiratory illnesses, including influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, and a dramatic surge in interstitial lung disease (ILD) cases.
• Karachi's average PM2.5 level (46.2ug/m³) is nine times higher than the WHO's safe limit and thrice Pakistan's own standards.
• Experts urge immediate government action to curb vehicular/industrial pollution, improve waste management, and promote tree plantation.

Why It Matters: Karachi's worsening air quality is triggering a major public health crisis.