Lahore Emerges as World’s Most Polluted City with AQI Reaching Hazardous 700

Lahore’s air quality has hit an alarming milestone, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a hazardous 700, as reported by global air monitoring systems. This marks Lahore as the most polluted city in the world, placing its citizens at high health risk, particularly those with respiratory conditions. The city’s overall AQI has been recorded at 690, a staggering figure indicating dangerous levels of pollutants in the air.

Health Concerns on the Rise Due to Severe Air Pollution

With this rise in pollution, Lahore’s hospitals are reporting a spike in respiratory issues among the public. Health practitioners have noted a dramatic increase in cases of coughs, viral infections, and sore throats directly linked to the city’s declining air quality. The air in Lahore is now deemed unhealthy for breathing, particularly during outdoor activities.

Authorities Issue Safety Guidelines Amid AQI Crisis

Local health authorities are urgently advising residents to take serious precautions. Citizens are urged to wear protective masks and goggles when venturing outdoors, limit outdoor activities to essential tasks only, and invest in air purifiers where possible. Running an air purifier indoors can be particularly helpful to maintain cleaner air in homes, while keeping windows closed is advised to prevent polluted air from entering living spaces.

Factors Contributing to Lahore’s Air Pollution Crisis

Experts highlight that a combination of environmental and human factors contributes to Lahore’s severe pollution levels. As winter sets in, colder, denser air traps harmful particles, including smoke from crop burning, vehicle emissions, and factory pollution. This creates a thick blanket of smog over the city, which stays close to the ground, significantly worsening air quality.

The effects of burning agricultural waste, garbage, and other materials also add large amounts of toxic particles into the atmosphere, which typically settle around cities like Lahore during the winter months. This seasonal air quality crisis has made Lahore one of the most challenging urban environments for clean air during this time of year, calling for swift action from both authorities and residents.