My love for Lahore feels complicated these days. It’s a love that’s been tested by the very air I breathe.
This is the city where I grew up, the city that shaped my identity, a place of vibrant culture, rich history, and unmatched hospitality.
Lahore has always been full of life, brimming with warmth and energy.
Yet, each year, loving this city grows more challenging because, each year, it becomes harder to breathe.
A City that Fights Back
But how can I hold this against her? Lahore, in her own way, fights back.
Just when we think the smog will suffocate her spirit, she surprises us.
A few weeks ago, the skies were blue, the sunshine clear, and the air felt fresh.
It was a moment of relief—a moment that reminded us why we love her so deeply. Lahore won’t surrender easily; she’s a fighter. And no matter how difficult it gets, we always return to her.
As the saying goes, “Lahore Lahore hai”—there’s no place like Lahore.
A Grim Reality
Despite these fleeting moments of clarity, the situation remains dire.
Lahore now ranks as the third most polluted city in the world, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) that’s dangerously unhealthy for everyone.
The brief respite in air quality is not a result of any long-term changes but simply a side effect of reduced activity during lockdowns.
The smog, thick and persistent, still hangs over the city, and without sustainable solutions, these moments of relief will be rare and short-lived.
Taking Action for Lahore’s Future
So, what can we do? It’s time to demand sustainable measures for Lahore. It’s time to take action because this city is worth fighting for.
We can’t afford to remain silent spectators to the smog crisis. This isn’t just a problem for officials or institutions to solve—it’s a crisis we’re all part of. Every one of us has a role in the pollution choking our beloved Lahore, and every one of us can be part of the solution.
At CarbonWise Pakistan, we’re trying to empower change.
We’ve launched Pakistan’s first individual emissions calculator app to help people understand their personal environmental impact.
Awareness is the first step towards change; by knowing how much we contribute to pollution, we can begin to reduce it.
Beyond Planting Trees: Building a Greener Community
But this isn’t just about numbers. Planting trees is not a one-time project—it’s a long-term commitment to cleaner air, a pledge to give Lahore a fighting chance.
Our goal goes beyond that: we want to build a community united by this vision, a space where sustainable choices become the norm.
By creating a marketplace for eco-friendly alternatives, we hope to make sustainable living accessible and natural for everyone.
A Call to Each of Us
The dream of a greener Pakistan begins with us.
Change starts with awareness, and awareness begins with understanding our impact.
Lahore is a city worth saving, a city that has given us so much.
Now, it’s our turn to give back—to fight for a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant future.
After all, “Lahore Lahore hai”—and she’s always worth fighting for.
Mahin is the co-founder of CarbonWise, an environment initiative that has launched Pakistan’s first carbon footprint calculator for individuals. She also serves as a short term consultant for the World Bank. In addition, Mahin is a digital creator, producing insightful videos on climate change and sustainability.
Images via: Abdullah Khalid
Dear Mahin . I highly doubt you will ever read this comment . However I see you must be 1 more new age liberal rich kid with enough to go around. Good for you . I used to be once (minus the rich part).
We all grow up someday I guess .
If you bothered to open a physics book once in your life you d know that planting trees is irrelevant to smog or air conditions. Also the fact that you never heard of Ari Haagen Smith who discovered what smog is back in 1960s shows how out of touch you are .
Not to mention the fact that smog was widespread in Los Angeles and London before over 80 years prior to lahore appearance.
Let me tell you something lady . Plz try being rational next time . Rapid urbanism and car growth resulted in this .
Your app or your planting trees has 0 correlation to anything.
thanks for insights
I think you didn’t even read anything, if you are saying that its cause of rapid urbanism ans car growth then how you can say that tree plantation is not related.
nd Mr angry guy always show some professionalism. Its shows your personality and how you are educated 😌
I think you didn’t even read anything, if you are saying that its cause of rapid urbanism ans car growth then how you can say that tree plantation is not related.
nd Mr angry guy always show some professionalism. Its shows your personality and how you are educated 😌
Sir, I don’t know who you are.
But you, by telling all this, made me realize that those liberals with wealth are a spoilage not only for Pakistan but all across the globe.
They only know how to disregard religion, cultural values and to cross moral and ethical boundaries and disrespect their elders and blab about thier knowledge ??!! Haha…you reflected her at least, her’s poor understanding and research and gave her a well deserved blow to the face, well done, sir.
It’s rare to see such a person like you these days.
I just wanted to take a sec and appreciate your knowledge and your fastidious and meritorious approach towards this simple issue made soo complicated by them.
Furthermore, her main focus was only on taking photographs of her poor condition in Lahore by wearing a kn95, and only changing the background of it.
In conclusion, she researched rubbish, wrote rubbish and presented rubbish, I really wish Gordon Ramsay was here being an environmentalist, she would’ve been cooked by him…
Anyways, thank you for enlightening us