A new report has ranked Pakistan among the most polluted countries in the world, raising concerns over worsening air quality and growing data shortages.
According to Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, only seven countries—Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland—met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standards in 2024.
Meanwhile, Chad, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were among the worst-affected nations, with pollution levels exceeding WHO’s recommended limits by a significant margin.
Pakistan ranked as the fourth most polluted country, trailing behind Chad, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report noted that South Asia remains a pollution hotspot, with India also in the top five.
The study also highlighted concerns over global air quality data tracking, particularly after the United States shut down its international monitoring program. Many nations, especially in Asia and Africa, relied on U.S. embassy sensors for pollution data, and this discontinuation is expected to impact environmental assessments.
Experts warn that climate change, industrial emissions, and deforestation continue to drive worsening air pollution. They stress the need for urgent action to improve air quality and reduce health risks linked to increasing pollution levels.