In response to record-breaking air pollution, Punjab’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is stepping up its anti-pollution efforts in Lahore but is hindered by a lack of real-time monitoring infrastructure. Currently, only three official air quality monitors are operational in the city, with reliance on private data sources that often lack consistency, according to EPD officials.
Lahore’s air quality has worsened dramatically, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching hazardous levels of 1,800 over the past weekend, making it the most polluted city globally. Experts stress that comprehensive and accurate data is critical to combatting smog, yet the EPD’s limited monitoring capabilities undermine its effectiveness.
The three functioning monitors include one each from the US Consulate, Punjab University, and an EPD-owned station at Town Hall. Meanwhile, the EPD’s mobile AQI van is out of order, and public access to in-office monitor data remains restricted.
According to a report by Express News, while Lahore hosts 17 AQI monitors, only three are government-run, with the rest privately operated. Many of these private monitors lack government certification and may provide unreliable data.
EPD Director-General Imran Hamid Sheikh acknowledged the limitations, explaining plans to add five more government monitors to improve coverage. He emphasized the importance of accurate data and confirmed a committee is working to evaluate private monitors across the city to address concerns about accuracy and placement.