Lahore has been ranked as the most polluted city globally, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 450, according to the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir. This ranking was reported by Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn. Karachi, with an AQI of 179, secured the ninth position on the list of the most polluted cities worldwide.
Air pollution has emerged as a significant environmental crisis in Pakistan in recent years. Cities like Lahore face severe smog issues, especially during winter, due to factors like industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, stubble burning, and air movements. The situation has prompted an air quality alert for Pakistan, with major cities experiencing unhealthy to hazardous levels of pollution.
The air quality alert advised residents to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors. On a specific day, Lahore’s AQI spiked to 501, while Karachi ranked sixth globally with an AQI of 178. Punjab, another province in Pakistan, also witnessed a surge in air pollution, with an average AQI of 200 recorded during a monitoring period.
Various districts in Punjab reported high AQI levels, with Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, and Lahore marked as ‘very unhealthy’ with AQIs of 291, 279, and 274, respectively. Additionally, Gujrat and Khanewal recorded AQIs of 214 and 204, indicating elevated pollution levels in these areas.
