Lahore chokes under toxic haze, declared world’s most polluted city

• City records US AQI of 412, with PM2.5 at 281 µg/m³ — 56 times WHO safe limit
• Toxic haze reduces visibility with health experts urge masks, limited outdoor movement
• New Delhi, Karachi also rank among world’s top polluted cities

LAHORE: Punjab’s capital Lahore once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Saturday morning, as a thick, toxic smog continued to engulf the metropolis and its adjoining areas—plunging air quality to hazardous levels and sparking growing public health concerns.

According to air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Lahore recorded a US AQI of 412 at 8:30 a.m., placing it in the “hazardous” category, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 281 µg/m³—a staggering 56.2 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual guideline value.

The dense haze has kept the city shrouded for days, severely reducing visibility and prompting widespread complaints of throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and eye inflammation. Health authorities have urged citizens to limit outdoor activities, wear protective masks, and keep children and the elderly indoors where possible.

The sharp deterioration in air quality coincides with the seasonal onset of winter, when cooler temperatures, stagnant winds, and trapped emissions from vehicles, factories, and post-harvest crop burning exacerbate pollution across Punjab.

Across the border, New Delhi also struggled with toxic air on Saturday, ranking among the world’s top polluted cities with an AQI of 275, categorised as “very unhealthy.” The Indian capital’s PM2.5 concentration stood at 200 µg/m³, largely attributed to vehicular emissions, industrial output, and stubble burning in neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, Karachi recorded a US AQI of 141, considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” The coastal city’s PM2.5 concentration measured 51.7 µg/m³—about 10.3 times higher than the WHO’s guideline value.

Every winter, much of South Asia is enveloped in dense smog as cold air traps fine particulate matter near the surface. Experts link the crisis to transport emissions, industrial smoke, construction dust, and the seasonal burning of crop residue, factors that combine to produce a prolonged blanket of haze across the region.

Despite efforts by local authorities in Lahore—including water sprinkling operations, partial industrial shutdowns, and roadside monitoring—experts warn that these measures remain short-term and insufficient. Without consistent enforcement, regional coordination, and long-term urban planning, they caution that the air quality crisis will likely deepen as temperatures continue to drop.

Medical experts warn that sustained exposure to such high levels of air pollution can cause stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses—posing a grave threat to millions across Punjab and beyond.

In response, the provincial government has activated Punjab’s first advanced Smog Monitoring and Control Centre, equipped with real-time sensors and modern analytical systems to track air quality across districts. Anti-smog guns have been deployed at identified hotspots throughout Lahore to help suppress particulate matter in the atmosphere.

According to Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, nine departments of the provincial government are currently engaged in grand operations against smog under the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

She said the Environmental Protection Department and environmental squads were fully mobilized, conducting continuous on-ground monitoring. “Brick kilns are being checked through drones, with live reports being issued from the field,” she added.

Anti-smog guns and air quality monitors are being operated round-the-clock, while, for the first time in Punjab’s history, the forecasting of the Air Quality Index (AQI) has enabled timely preventive actions and data-driven operations aimed at reducing pollution levels.