Project
Can Lahore Ever Breathe Again?
Workers, children, and the elderly face worsening air quality.
When I went to Pakistan as a child, there were always smiles at the door, homemade chai before I could sit down, and food I could never finish but was always encouraged to try. That same spirit carried into my reporting. Laborers, students, and experts didn’t just answer questions, they let me step into their lives, something I will never forget.
Growing up, I always imagined Pakistan as worlds apart, but reporting here showed me how closely our lives are intertwined. In Lahore, the fight for clean air has always persisted. However, I am fortunate enough to live in California, where efforts to clean up smog began in 1967.
As a journalist, I had never felt people’s openness so strongly. Even when speaking about heavy topics like smog and illness, they spoke with sincerity. I could hear the weight of their words in their voices, and we clicked right away. As a winter person, I’ve always taken sunny, blue skies for granted. But as a human being, listening to those stories, I realized how vital clean air is, and how devastating its absence can be.
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