Lahore has once again claimed the dubious distinction of being the most polluted city in the world, with its air quality classified as “hazardous,” according to the global monitoring platform IQAir.
Air pollution has emerged as one of Pakistan’s most pressing public health and environmental challenges in recent years. Several cities, particularly Lahore, experience severe smog during winter, largely due to industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, stubble burning, and atmospheric conditions.
On Wednesday morning, Lahore topped the global pollution list with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 452, while Karachi ranked ninth at 179, according to IQAir’s live tracker. The city remained at the top as of January 21.
The previous day, IQAir had issued an air quality alert for Pakistan, warning that major cities were experiencing pollution levels ranging from “unhealthy” to “hazardous,” posing serious health risks, especially for children and the elderly. At that time, Lahore’s AQI had surged to 507, deep into the hazardous category (301+), while Karachi was sixth on the list with an “unhealthy” AQI of 178.
Authorities advised residents to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, wear masks outdoors, and use air purifiers indoors to reduce exposure.
Punjab authorities have attempted to tackle smog in Lahore with measures such as water sprinkling and rapid response initiatives to curb stubble burning. Despite these efforts and claims of improvement, hazardous pollution levels continue to persist.
