ISLAMABAD: Lahore and Karachi ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world on Sunday, according to live air quality data.
Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 292, falling in the “very unhealthy” category, while Karachi registered an AQI of 156, deemed “unhealthy.”
The day’s 10 worst cities for air quality included Lahore (292), Delhi (238), Kolkata (170), Hanoi (159), Mumbai (158), Karachi (156), Dhaka (152), Kuwait City (148), Kinshasa (144), and Kabul (135).
Experts attribute these alarming pollution levels to a mix of factors including vehicular emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, and crop residue burning. Seasonal weather patterns and stagnant air further trap pollutants near the surface, worsening the situation across South and Southeast Asia.
