Smog and Floods Leave Pakistani Families in Crisis

Pakistan is battling back-to-back disasters as Punjab floods devastate communities already struggling with toxic smog. Families who once fled Lahore’s choking air now face rising waters that have washed away homes, crops, and livelihoods. The twin crises highlight the fragile existence of millions caught between pollution and climate change.

A Home Lost to Rising Waters

On the rooftop of her neighbor’s house in Shahdara, near Lahore, 38-year-old Ghulam Bano looks down at what remains of her home. Murky, foul-smelling water has swallowed the streets, leaving families stranded with no time to gather belongings.

Bano moved to Shahdara last year to escape Lahore’s infamous smog. Her husband, already sick with tuberculosis, suffered worse when the polluted air thickened during winter. “He started coughing blood, and his condition kept getting worse when the smog hit,” she said.

Now the floods have destroyed her new start. “I thought the smog was bad enough. I never imagined something worse could follow,” she added, standing in knee-deep mud.

Lahore Under Threat

Monsoon rains this week swelled the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers, overwhelming low-lying neighborhoods across Punjab. Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, stands at high risk of urban flooding. Authorities warn that more rain is expected this weekend, raising fears of greater devastation.

The overflowing Ravi River submerged Bano’s neighborhood. Dozens of families rushed to a nearby school built on higher ground. There, temporary shelters now host flood victims, while doctors treat children and adults for infections caused by dirty water.

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A Nation in Mourning

Since June, heavier-than-usual monsoon rains have triggered floods and landslides across Pakistan. Over 820 people have died, and more than 1.4 million have been affected. Nearly 265,000 residents have already been evacuated from flood-hit zones.

The government set up over 300 relief camps in Punjab alone, but survivors say resources remain scarce. Many families, especially women and children, escaped with nothing but the clothes they wore. “We had to run for our lives. We didn’t even get clothes for our kids,” said Tabassum Suleman, a 40-year-old widow now staying in a school camp.

Struggling to Survive

The floods have magnified existing hardships. Amir Mehmood, a 32-year-old shopkeeper, described how his family already suffered during Lahore’s winter smog. “Children fall ill in the smog because of the extreme cold. Some get sick due to the unsanitary conditions around us. And now there’s a flood. Our homes have collapsed, walls have fallen, and everything is damaged.”

He moved his family, along with 10 cows and two goats, to a relative’s house on higher ground. Like many others, he does not know when or if he will return home.

Bano’s story is no different. With her husband bedridden and unable to work, she has become the sole provider. But the disaster has left her without food, clean water, or shelter. “I ate today after two days. There is no clean water. I left my daughter at a relative’s place and stayed behind, hoping the water recedes,” she said, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

Health Emergency Looms

The combination of polluted air and floodwaters has triggered a growing health crisis. Doctors in relief camps report a rise in skin infections, fungal diseases, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Children are the most vulnerable, facing both malnutrition and waterborne illnesses.

Tuberculosis patients, like Bano’s husband, are especially at risk. Already weakened by pollution and poor health services, they now lack access to medicines and clean living conditions. Volunteers and medical teams struggle to cope with the surge in patients.

Climate Change Intensifies Disasters

Pakistan’s monsoon rains, once vital for agriculture, are becoming more erratic due to climate change. Scientists warn that warming temperatures are fueling heavier downpours, leading to deadlier floods. At the same time, unchecked industrial emissions keep cities like Lahore shrouded in toxic smog every winter.

This deadly cycle leaves families with little room to recover. One season brings suffocating air; the next, destructive floods. Together, they push vulnerable households deeper into poverty and despair.

Looking at the Future

For those in Shahdara and beyond, life has become a struggle for survival. Relief camps provide temporary shelter, but people fear what lies ahead once the waters subside. Rebuilding homes, reviving businesses, and restoring health will require months—if not years—of support.

Standing outside her flooded street, Bano summed up the pain shared by thousands: “First the smog, now the floods. We just can’t catch a break.”