Lahore’s air quality has plunged to “hazardous” levels, positioning the city as the most polluted in the world, according to recent IQAir data. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 400 mark, posing severe health risks. Environmentalist Yasir Husain noted that Lahore’s air is 80 times more polluted than healthy levels, with the AQI far exceeding the standard level of 50.
The smog crisis, caused by a combination of agricultural burning, vehicle emissions, and power production, is exacerbated by slower wind speeds during winter, trapping pollutants and creating dangerous conditions for residents.