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Lahore Tops Global Pollution Charts with Hazardous AQI Over 450

Lahore has been ranked as the world's most polluted city with an Air Quality Index exceeding 450. The crisis is driven by industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and seasonal stubble burning. A health alert has been issued, advising residents to limit outdoor activities and use protective measures. Other Pakistani cities, including Karachi and several districts in Punjab, are also experiencing hazardous pollution levels.

Key Points: Lahore Ranked World's Most Polluted City by IQAir

  • Lahore AQI hits 452
  • Karachi ranked 9th most polluted
  • Industrial and vehicular emissions primary causes
  • Health alert issued for Pakistan
2 min read

Pakistan's Lahore ranked world's most polluted city

Lahore's AQI exceeds 450, making it the most polluted city globally. Karachi also ranks in the top ten. Health alerts issued for Pakistan.

"Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors. - IQAir Platform"

Islamabad, Jan 21

Lahore has been ranked at the top of global pollution charts with an Air Quality Index of more than 450, according to the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir, local media reported on Wednesday.

Lahore, with an AQI of 452, was ranked in the first spot among the most polluted cities of the world on Wednesday, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. Karachi, with an AQI of 179, was ranked at the ninth spot among the most polluted cities of the world.

Air pollution in Pakistan has become one of the most pressing environmental crises faced by the country in the past few years. Various cities of Pakistan, especially Lahore, deal with smog, particularly in the winter months, and this is caused by industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, stubble burning and air movement.

On Tuesday, the platform issued an air quality alert for Pakistan as major cities experienced "unhealthy" to "hazardous" levels of air pollution. At the time, Lahore had an AQI of 501 while Karachi ranked at the sixth spot among the most polluted cities of the world with an AQI of 178 on Tuesday.

In the alert, the platform stated, "Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors."

Meanwhile, a thick layer of smog continued to cover the majority of parts of Pakistan's Punjab on January 17, resulting in air quality rising to hazardous levels in several districts. Punjab recorded an average AQI of 200 during the morning-to-afternoon monitoring period on January 17, according to data released by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pakistan's another leading daily, The Express Tribune, reported.

Several districts recorded more AQI, with Muzaffargarh at the top of the list with an AQI of 291, followed by Rahim Yar Khan at 279 and Lahore at 274, all placed as 'very unhealthy'. Other areas also reported higher pollution levels as Gujrat recorded an AQI of 214 while Khanewal had at 204.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Living in Delhi, I know this struggle all too well. The winter smog is a nightmare. My heart goes out to the people in Lahore and Karachi who have to breathe this air daily. The common causes are the same here too - stubble burning, vehicles, industry. We need regional cooperation on this, not just national solutions.
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Aman W
It's a wake-up call for the entire subcontinent. Our geography and weather patterns are similar. When Punjab in Pakistan suffers, it can affect air quality in Indian Punjab too. Instead of pointing fingers, we should see this as a shared environmental challenge. Hope they implement strict measures soon. 🙏
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Priyanka N
The article mentions advisories to stay indoors and use purifiers. But how many ordinary citizens in Lahore can afford air purifiers? This is a public health emergency that requires government action on the ground - controlling industrial emissions, providing viable alternatives to stubble burning for farmers. Thoughts are with the people there.
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Rahul R
With an AQI of 501 mentioned for a previous day, that's literally off the charts. It's sad to see any city, regardless of which country it's in, facing such conditions. We in India have made some progress with CNG vehicles and pollution control norms, though there's a long way to go. Perhaps sharing our technical experiences could help.
K
Kiran H
While the situation is terrible, I must respectfully point out that our media often highlights pollution in Pakistan while underplaying our own cities' consistently poor rankings. Delhi, Ghaziabad, and others are regularly in the top 10. We should focus on solving our own problems with equal urgency. Charity begins at home

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