Lahore – The air quality in Lahore has shown signs of improvement, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping below 300 on Sunday and maintaining this level on Monday. This positive shift marks a welcome change in the city’s long-standing smog crisis that has plagued the region for over a month. Despite this improvement, Lahore continues to hold the title of the most polluted city in Pakistan and remains among the world’s most polluted cities.
The recent improvement in air quality in Lahore comes as a result of a change in wind direction, which has helped alleviate the intense smog. As a result, the city has dropped to the fourth spot in the global ranking of the most polluted cities, a position it previously dominated.
However, despite this easing of conditions, Lahore’s AQI still hovers in the “very unhealthy” range, fluctuating between 200 and 300. On Monday, the AQI stood at 267, with PM2.5 pollutant levels reaching 191.8, which is 38.4 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended annual air quality guideline.
India’s New Delhi remains at the top of the global list of the most polluted cities, with an AQI of 582, marking it as hazardous.
Lahore’s pollution levels have fluctuated between 300 and 450 — deemed “hazardous” by the Swiss air quality technology firm, IQAir — from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon. Since then, the AQI has stabilized in the “very unhealthy” range. The seasonal battle against smog is worsened by cold, dense air that traps dust, smoke, and emissions, especially from agricultural fires.
The decline in smog levels in recent days allowed schools in Lahore and Multan to reopen after a week-long closure caused by hazardous pollution. However, students are still required to wear face masks, and outdoor sports activities remain suspended at educational institutions.
The health consequences of breathing toxic air are severe, with the WHO warning that prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses. A study from the University of Chicago has shown that pollution in Lahore has already reduced life expectancy by 7.5 years.
Experts believe that addressing the smog crisis in Punjab requires modernizing car fleets, revising farming practices, and transitioning to renewable energy sources to mitigate the pollution that affects millions of people every year in both Pakistan and India.
