DefinePK

Abstract

Air pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental and public health challenges of the 21st century, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, rapid industrialization, urban sprawl, and weak regulatory enforcement have culminated in dangerously high pollution levels, particularly in major cities like La-hore, Karachi, and Peshawar. With over 135,000 premature deaths annually and a reduction in life expectancy by near-ly four years, the crisis transcends environmental degradation—it is a national health emergency.