Lahore’s air quality worsened on Tuesday as thick layers of smog blanketed Punjab, with the city ranking second among the world’s most polluted urban centers — just behind Delhi, which recorded a staggering AQI of 535.
As Delhi battles “hazardous” pollution levels, toxic air has begun drifting across the border into Pakistan, worsening conditions in Lahore and surrounding districts.
According to the Swiss air monitoring group IQAir, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 266 on Tuesday, categorised as “very unhealthy”.
Experts warn that the city’s average AQI could rise further, hovering between 210 and 240 in the coming days.
The city’s PM2.5 concentration — fine particulate matter small enough to enter the bloodstream — was recorded at 187 µg/m³, nearly 37 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline value.
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Meanwhile, Karachi also appeared on the global pollution index, ranking sixth with an AQI of 164, deemed “unhealthy”.
Punjab deploys emergency measures
Officials have warned that Diwali fireworks across northern India could further intensify Lahore’s smog, aggravating already poor visibility and respiratory risks.
The Punjab government has deployed several emergency measures, including citywide water-spraying operations, anti-smog guns, and the monitoring of brick kilns through drones.
The provincial government has also set up Punjab’s first advanced Smog Monitoring and Control Centre, using modern technology to track air quality in real time.
“Grand anti-amog operation” underway
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that nine departments are currently engaged in a coordinated anti-smog campaign under the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
“Continuous efforts by the Punjab government and public cooperation helped to control the air quality index of the city,” she stated.
Aurangzeb added that the Environmental Protection Force and other departments were “fully mobilised”, with air quality monitors, anti-smog machinery, and drone surveillance operating across identified hotspots.
She emphasised that forecasting of air quality for the first time in Punjab’s history had enabled timely preventive actions, ensuring that smog levels remained under closer control.
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According to officials, traffic police have restricted heavy vehicles and trolleys to curb vehicular pollution. Using Safe City cameras, authorities are monitoring traffic flow and ensuring compliance with emission controls.
In addition, construction sites have been ordered to cover open materials to prevent dust from spreading, while departments including WASA, LDA, PHA, C&W, and local administrations began water sprinkling operations overnight to reduce airborne particles.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated the provincial departments for their coordinated efforts, praising the integration of modern technology, timely data provision, and inter-departmental coordination in tackling pollution.
