Lahore
For the second time in a week, Lahore has been named the world’s most polluted city on Sunday, reporting an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 208. New Delhi followed closely behind with an AQI of 164. In fact, the U.S. embassy’s local monitoring indicated an even higher level of 252, categorized as very unhealthy for all residents.
The announcement comes despite efforts by the Punjab government to combat air pollution and smog. On the day Lahore topped the pollution rankings, educational institutions were closed, and traffic was minimal due to holidays, raising concerns about previous assessments that attributed air pollution mainly to vehicle emissions.
Environmental officials expressed alarm at this early onset of the smog season, particularly since Lahore had also been ranked the most polluted city globally on October 12. Last year, it topped the list for the first time during the final week of October.
A senior official from the environment department noted that transport vehicles are responsible for 39% of Lahore’s smog. Even with reduced traffic, the city’s pollution levels remain critically high.
Munawar Sabir, a former chairperson of the Geography Department at Punjab University, urged immediate action from the government, stating, ‘We are moving towards environmental destruction. The pollution level means we are living in the world’s dirtiest air, which will damage life in the region.’
In response, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has mobilized various departments to implement measures against smog, including crackdowns on factories and brick kilns contributing to pollution.
