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At least 12 more children died of pneumonia in Punjab during the last 24 hours due to an increase in a deadly winter season with regular gas outages and many Pakistanis unable to afford adequate heating.
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on January 1, the consumer price index (CPI) for December in Pakistan increased by 29.7% from the previous year. The country, home to 241 million people, had its highest level of inflation in 2023, and its currency fell to all-time lows until a $3 billion IMF bailout prevented an impending sovereign default in July.
In October, Pakistan announced a substantial hike in natural gas prices for most families and industry ahead of the winter season. As a result, millions of Pakistanis are forced to choose between fuel and food as the nation struggles with an economic crisis. Gas outages lasting several hours or load shedding are also frequent.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
“There have been 491 cases of pneumonia was reported in Punjab during the past 24 hours, whereas in [eastern city of Lahore, 230 children have been confirmed with the disease during the same period,” APP said.
“The total number of children who have suffered from the disease in Punjab this year has reached 194, while in Lahore, 45 children have been affected by the disease so far this year.”