Assalamu Alaikum - Lahore, Karachi among the world’s most polluted cities as Punjab faces severe smog
Assalamu Alaikum - ISLAMABAD: Lahore, capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, has once again been listed among the most polluted cities globally as authorities struggle with dangerous smog. This recurring, heavy smog has become a serious public health issue in Pakistan’s cultural capital, causing school closures and restricted movement in past seasons, with people reporting poor visibility and breathing problems.
At 9:40 am local time on Tuesday, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 394 - in the “hazardous” range - with PM2.5 levels at 272 µg/m³, according to Swiss monitoring data. PM2.5 refers to tiny airborne particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller that can enter the bloodstream when inhaled. The monitoring group noted that Lahore’s PM2.5 concentration is over 50 times the World Health Organization’s annual guideline.
Karachi, Pakistan’s southern port and industrial center, logged an AQI of 164 at the same time, placing it among the top polluted cities and categorized as “unhealthy.”
The smog season usually starts in late October and peaks between November and January, often stretching into February. Key contributors are crop residue burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution across Punjab’s plains.
Punjab’s government has been taking steps to reduce smog’s impact. Last month the province used anti-smog guns - water-misting trucks that help settle dust and pollutants - which temporarily improved air quality. Officials are also pushing large-scale tree planting as a longer-term solution. Raja Mansoor Ahmed, director general of Lahore’s Parks and Horticulture Authority, said roughly 350,000 trees have been planted under the Lungs of Lahore initiative, with 150,000 added this year along the Ring Road.
He added that a Ring Forestation of Lahore project has been approved to plant 2.1 million trees around a 113-kilometer ring once funding is available, as a long-term effort to restore the city’s environment.
May Allah make it easy for our communities to breathe cleaner air and guide authorities to effective, sustainable actions.
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