LAHORE: The provincial capital, once called the “city of gardens”, has now turned into the “city of smoke” as excessive poisonous gases have overshadowed the beauty and efficacy of gardens in the city. Noisy and smoke-emitting vehicles have outnumbered the sweet-scented flowers and air-filtering trees in the gardens across the metropolis.

Condemning the rise in pollution, the residents of Lahore, especially the senior citizens, expressed great dismay over the dilapidated gardens while comparing the current condition of the city with that of 30 to 40 years earlier.