Expressing serious concern over the growing levels of air pollution affecting all major cities of Pakistan, a senior expert at a press conference held at the Aga Khan University (AKU) shared findings of a recent study conducted in Karachi, demonstrating a substantial increase in hospital admissions and ER (emergency room) visits for respiratory issues due to short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and air pollutants. The study titled ‘Impact of fine particulate pollution exposures on respiratory health in a mega city of Pakistan’ has recently been published in the journal Atmospheric Pollution Research. The study — the first evidence of PM2.5 association with pulmonary diseases in a mega city of Pakistan— reveals alarmingly high levels of harmful particles in Karachi’s air. High levels of sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, and black carbon that contributed to poor air quality have also been found widespread across the city.