As smog hangs over Lahore, Pakistan's new pollution squad races to douse stubble fires

Al-MonitorNovember 14, 2026By Nov 14, 2026

By Mubasher BukhariLAHORE, Nov 14 (Reuters) - As smog again settles over large parts of South Asia, Pakistani authorities are widening a crackdown on illegal stubble burning they say is fuelling the region's annual pollution crisis.On Thursday, officers of a new quick-response unit swung off their vehicles at a paddy field on the edge of Lahore. Smoke curled low over the stubble, and the crew had the fire under control within minutes, keeping it fromadding to the haze over a city that Swiss group IQAir rated “very unhealthy” earlier this week.

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