Air quality sinks to hazardous levels as multiple Lahore zones report extreme pollution
Lahore once again ranked as the most polluted city in the world on Thursday, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) touching a staggering 497, a level classified globally as hazardous. Residents endured choking smog throughout the day as toxic particles blanketed the provincial capital.
What Happened? — AQI Hits Extreme Levels
According to IQAir, Lahore maintained the world’s worst air quality all day, with pollution intensifying during morning and evening hours.
- 11am: AQI peaked at 497 (Hazardous)
- Afternoon: Levels briefly eased to “Very Unhealthy”
- 7pm onward: Pollution spiked again, reaching 278
Neighbourhoods including Johar Town, DHA, Bedian, Iqbal Town, Askari, Barki Road, and the Civil Secretariat were among the most severely affected.
Where Is the Smog Coming From? — Meteorological Factors
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that continental air currently dominates across Punjab, trapping pollutants closer to the ground.
Smog and fog patches are forecast to affect:
- Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal
- Jhelum, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal
- Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu
PMD expects unhealthy air quality to persist due to stagnant wind flow and rising humidity.
Why Is Lahore Suffocating? — The Sources of Pollution
The Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) revealed alarming long-term data:
- Lahore recorded zero clean air days in 2024 by WHO standards
- 218 days also failed to meet Punjab’s environmental standards
- Annual PM2.5 levels remain 21 times above WHO limits
- Average concentration at 104.6 µg/m³
- Result: 7 years of life expectancy lost for the average Lahori
PAQI identified transportation, industry, and brick kilns as contributors of over 75% of the city’s PM2.5 load.
What Is the Government Doing? — Anti-Smog Operations
The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department reported major enforcement actions in November:
- 2,575 polluting units demolished
- 2,500 premises sealed for violations
Despite the crackdown, on-ground pollution levels show little improvement, indicating enforcement alone is insufficient without systemic change.
How Bad Is the Air Right Now? — Latest Weather Snapshot
- Maximum temperature: 25°C
- Humidity: 85%
- Winds: Northwesterly, 5–10 km/h
The EPA categorised Lahore’s AQI as Unhealthy (201–300) for most of the day, though several pockets entered Hazardous territory.
Why Lahore Keeps Failing
Chronic Structural Neglect
Lahore’s smog crisis is not seasonal, it is structural. Decades of unchecked urban growth, weak pollution controls, and rising vehicle density have made clean air a luxury.
Temporary Crackdowns, Permanent Problems
While demolishing polluting units makes headlines, the deeper issues remain:
- Outdated industrial technology
- Lack of mass transit
- Unregulated construction
- Dependence on fossil fuels
- Crop burning and winter inversion layers
The Cost of Breathing in Lahore
With PM2.5 levels 21 times above WHO limits, Lahore is living through a public health emergency. Schools, children, elderly populations, and daily wage workers face the harshest consequences.
What Next? — The Road Ahead
If weather conditions remain stagnant, Lahore is expected to face:
- Continued Unhealthy to Hazardous AQI
- Reduced visibility
- Respiratory illnesses spike
- Increased medical emergencies
Long-term solutions require policy reform, mass transit expansion, cleaner fuels, stricter industrial regulation, and agricultural alternatives to crop burning.