Lahore Air Quality Crashes to Dangerous Lows

News Desk

Lahore: The provincial capital once again ranked as the world’s most polluted major city on Saturday morning after its air quality plunged into the “hazardous” category, according to Swiss monitoring platform IQAir.

At around 9am, Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 533 — among the highest in the world — as a dense toxic haze continued to blanket the city for days, severely reducing visibility and driving up respiratory ailments across Punjab.

IQAir identified PM2.5 as the city’s primary pollutant, measuring 341.9 µg/m³, which is 68.4 times above the World Health Organisation’s annual standard. These ultra-fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory illnesses.

Hospitals in Lahore have reported a rise in patients suffering from throat irritation, breathing difficulties and eye discomfort. Public health experts urged citizens to stay indoors during peak smog hours and recommended wearing N95 or P100 respirators when outdoors.

Across the border, New Delhi also remained engulfed in severe winter smog, recording an AQI of 508 around 8am before dropping to 446. The Indian capital’s PM2.5 levels were still 59.7 times higher than WHO guidelines.

Seasonal cold air continues to trap emissions from vehicles, industry, construction and crop-residue burning, creating a toxic winter mix that routinely places the city among the world’s most polluted.

Kolkata ranked third globally as much of South Asia battled a seasonal pollution spike driven by thermal inversion — a meteorological phenomenon where warmer air traps cooler, polluted air close to the ground. Experts warn this “lid effect”, intensified by heating demand and idle engines, contributes to dangerous smog episodes across the region.

Global health organisations continue to raise alarms. UNICEF notes that children face heightened risks of acute respiratory infections, while a 2023 study found that air pollution can shorten life expectancy by more than five years in parts of South Asia. The smog also disrupts daily life, leading to school closures, travel delays and increased pressure on healthcare systems.

In Pakistan, Punjab authorities say the province’s first Smog Monitoring and Control Centre is collecting real-time pollution data to guide interventions. Anti-smog guns have been deployed at major hotspots in Lahore as part of ongoing mitigation efforts.

Health experts advise residents to minimise exposure by staying indoors during high AQI hours, enhancing indoor ventilation with MERV-13 filters, using HEPA purifiers and avoiding smoke-producing activities. They also recommend staying hydrated and consuming antioxidant-rich foods to help counteract pollution-related stress.

However, experts warn that while short-term precautions may reduce health risks, long-term improvement will require stricter enforcement of environmental laws, transitions to cleaner energy and sustained regional cooperation — especially as winter deepens and pollution dynamics intensify across South Asia.