Lahore air quality plummets to hazardous levels amid dense smog
Pakistan
Lahore has now become the second most polluted city in the world.
LAHORE (Dunya News): Air pollution in Lahore and several other cities of Punjab has reached alarming levels, with air quality indices (AQI) recorded in the hazardous zone.
According to the global environmental monitoring website IQAir, Lahore has now become the second most polluted city in the world, as the average smog level surged to 437 AQI — a reading considered extremely dangerous for human health.
Data collected from different parts of the city paints a grim picture: Allama Iqbal Town recorded an AQI of 667, Government College Lahore 649, Sanda Road 663, Murataib Ali Road 605, Punjab University vicinity 554, Model Town 503, Shalimar 498, and Cantonment 445. Environmental experts have warned that these readings fall within the “hazardous” category, meaning the air quality poses a serious risk to all residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses.
Across the border, New Delhi, India, tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with an AQI of 678. Other cities in Pakistan are also suffering from worsening air quality — Gujranwala recorded 639, Faisalabad 460, and Multan 429.
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Health experts have issued urgent advisories, warning that the continuously rising pollution levels could lead to severe respiratory and cardiac complications. Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, wear protective masks, and limit outdoor activities, particularly in the early morning hours when smog concentration is highest.
Meanwhile, meteorological officials reported that Lahore’s maximum temperature today was 26°C and the minimum 12°C. Winds are blowing at 3 kilometers per hour, with humidity levels at 80 percent, conditions that contribute to the persistence of smog over the city.
