Lahore, Punjab’s capital, topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Saturday as dense smog drove the air quality index (AQI) to a staggering 1,067 around 9:30 a.m., according to Swiss air quality monitors. Although it later improved to 702, the city maintained its position as the most polluted, with visibility reduced to zero in many areas, affecting transport, daily activities, and public health.
The seasonal smog in Lahore typically worsens in winter due to stagnant cold air trapping pollutants from construction, traffic, and crop burning. Smog levels have also been exacerbated by smoke drifting in from Delhi, India, which experienced similar pollution spikes after Diwali celebrations.
In response, the Punjab government has imposed a “Green Lockdown” in the most polluted zones of Lahore, banning construction activities, restricting Qingqi rickshaws, limiting outdoor cooking without emission controls, and mandating masks. Outdoor activities for schoolchildren have been minimized to reduce exposure.
For residents like Mohammad Saad, who reported recurring respiratory problems, the smog has turned daily life into a health hazard. With particulate pollution far exceeding WHO safety levels, life expectancy in Lahore is reduced by an estimated 7.5 years, per research by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.
Given the scale of the crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz proposed a collaborative approach with India to combat pollution in the region. With nearly 600 million children in South Asia regularly exposed to high pollution levels, experts emphasize the urgency of collective regional efforts to tackle the crisis before it worsens.
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