LAHORE: The city of Lahore has once again become the most polluted city worldwide, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a staggering 581 on Wednesday.
In comparison, New Delhi, India’s capital, held the second spot with an AQI of 253.Not only Lahore, but multiple cities across Punjab are currently engulfed in thick smog. Faisalabad, an industrial hub in Punjab, recorded an AQI of 761, making it the most polluted city in the province. Lahore followed with an AQI of 581, while Multan ranked third with a reading of 460.
As winter sets in, air pollution and smog have become persistent issues across Punjab. Last year, authorities made frantic efforts to combat the rising smog levels, which severely impacted public health. The city of Lahore remained shrouded in smog a hazardous mixture of fog and pollutants caused by emissions from low-quality diesel and seasonal agricultural burning as temperatures dropped.
At one point, Lahore’s pollution levels exceeded the WHO’s safe limits by more than 80 times. In response, the government closed schools and imposed restrictions on business hours and public gatherings to mitigate health risks posed by the toxic air. The persistent haze has raised serious concerns about long-term health impacts on residents, prompting urgent measures to address the worsening air quality.
