Residents of Lahore woke up to overcast skies once again on Monday as the city topped global pollution charts, grappling with thickening smog.
According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology firm, Lahore recorded an alarming air quality index (AQI) of 532 this morning. This marks nearly a week of the provincial capital being the world’s most polluted city, highlighting a deteriorating smog situation.
Every winter, Lahore faces escalating pollution levels as colder temperatures trap construction dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke. On Sunday, the air quality plummeted to dangerously low levels, with an AQI hitting 700, prompting the Punjab Environment Protection Department to issue a smog alert.
IQAir classifies air quality as “hazardous” once the AQI exceeds 300. The scale categorizes readings as follows: 0-50 is “good,” 51-100 is “moderate,” 101-150 is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151-200 is “unhealthy,” 201-300 is “very unhealthy,” and readings above 300 are deemed “hazardous.”
In light of the alarming air quality, residents are advised to take precautions to mitigate health risks. Recommendations include monitoring air quality, keeping doors and windows closed, minimizing outdoor activities, and wearing masks if they need to go outside.
In response to the smog crisis, outdoor activities in schools across Punjab have been suspended, and school timings have been adjusted. Traffic police have also issued warnings for motorists, advising them to drive cautiously due to reduced visibility caused by the smog.
Meanwhile, New Delhi remains the second most polluted city today, with an AQI of 268. Both cities frequently vie for the title of the world’s most polluted during winter months when temperature inversions exacerbate air quality issues.
Karachi is also experiencing pollution challenges, ranking among the top 10 polluted cities with an AQI of 123, indicating “unhealthy” conditions for sensitive groups. According to a recent advisory from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, foggy and smoggy weather is expected from November to mid-December as the winter season sets in.
Poor air quality poses significant health risks, contributing to a range of medical issues, particularly respiratory problems. A report from last year highlighted that rising air pollution could reduce life expectancy by over five years for individuals in South Asia, one of the most polluted regions globally.
