The authorities in Lahore, home to 13 million people and the country’s second-biggest city, have told half the work force to stay home.

The pollution has been sending patients to hospitals and private clinics complaining of coughs or burning eyes. "Tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory diseases were treated at hospitals and clinics in a week,

Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, is currently suffering from record levels of air pollution. Dense smog consisting of fog, exhaust fumes and smoke has been hanging over the metropolis of 13 million inhabitants for days.