Lahore, Pakistan’s provincial capital, remains the country’s most polluted city despite a slight improvement in its Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 267 on Monday morning. The city’s AQI, now classified as “very unhealthy,” dropped from hazardous levels of 300-450 seen last week.
Although Lahore fell to fourth place globally for the world’s most polluted cities—down from first—a PM2.5 level of 191.8 remains 38.4 times higher than WHO guidelines. Neighboring New Delhi now tops the list with an AQI of 582.
Smog levels, exacerbated by cold weather and emissions, had forced school closures in Punjab. Schools reopened last week under strict precautions, including mandatory masks and a ban on outdoor sports.
Long-term exposure to toxic air poses severe health risks, reducing life expectancy in Lahore by 7.5 years, according to a University of Chicago study. Experts stress modernizing transport, revising farming practices, and adopting renewable energy to tackle the region’s persistent smog.
