Lahore Air Quality Declared Worst Globally Amid Smog

News Desk

Lahore: Punjab’s capital Lahore once again ranked as the world’s most polluted city on Saturday morning, as dense smog continued to blanket the metropolis and much of South Asia, severely reducing visibility and worsening public health conditions.

According to global air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Lahore recorded a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 412 at 8:30 a.m. — categorised as hazardous. The city’s PM2.5 concentration stood at 281 µg/m³, which is 56 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual guideline value.

The toxic haze has persisted for days, leaving citizens struggling with throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and itchy eyes. Public health experts have urged residents to stay indoors as much as possible and wear protective masks when venturing outside.

Environmental experts attribute the deteriorating air quality to vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and post-harvest crop burning, compounded by cooler temperatures and stagnant winds that trap pollutants close to the ground.

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Across the border, New Delhi also reported alarming air pollution levels, ranking among the top polluted cities on Saturday morning with an AQI of 275, classified as very unhealthy. The Indian capital’s PM2.5 levels reached 200 µg/m³, primarily due to emissions from vehicles, factories, and seasonal stubble burning in neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, Karachi recorded an AQI of 141, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, with PM2.5 concentrations of 51.7 µg/m³, about 10 times higher than WHO’s safe limit.

Each winter, large parts of South Asia experience a surge in pollution as cold air traps fine particulate matter near the surface. Emissions from transport, industry, construction, and agricultural residue burning all contribute to the persistent smog that engulfs the region for weeks.

While local authorities in Lahore have launched water sprinkling operations and partial industrial shutdowns, experts warn these are short-term measures that fail to address the root causes of the crisis. Without sustained enforcement and regional cooperation, they caution, the situation is likely to worsen as temperatures drop.

Health specialists have warned that prolonged exposure to such hazardous air can cause stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses, posing a severe threat to millions across the region.

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Meanwhile, the Punjab government has stepped up efforts to tackle the crisis. The province’s first advanced Smog Monitoring and Control Centre, equipped with real-time air quality technology, is now fully operational. Anti-smog guns have been deployed at key hotspots across Lahore to help reduce particulate pollution.

Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that nine departments of the provincial government were conducting grand anti-smog operations under the direction of the chief minister. She added that the Environmental Protection Department and its field squads were fully mobilised, with drone surveillance being used to monitor brick-kilns and provide live reports.

The minister said that anti-smog guns and air quality monitors were functioning across the city, and that — for the first time in Punjab’s history — air quality forecasting had enabled timely response operations to control pollution levels.