Lahore has risen to second place among the world’s most polluted cities, according to IQAir, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 209, just below New Delhi’s 218. The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attributed the worsening smog to easterly winds and predicted the city’s AQI would remain between 195 and 210, categorized as “very unhealthy.” Experts warned that pollution may intensify in the coming days due to fireworks during India’s Diwali celebrations.
Health specialists cautioned that the poor air quality poses severe risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues, urging limited outdoor exposure. The Meteorological Department forecast that wind speeds between 1 and 9 km/h could offer temporary relief, lowering AQI levels around midday before rising again in the evening.
In response, the Punjab government has stepped up anti-smog measures under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s direction. Authorities are cracking down on smoke-emitting vehicles, enforcing construction material cover rules, and conducting nightly water sprinkling to reduce dust. The government is also continuing its campaign against stubble burning, deploying hundreds of machines to recycle crop residue into fodder, aiming to curb pollution and improve air quality across the province.
In order to combat pollution, Lahore Launches Plastic-for-Cash Scheme
