Lahore has once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, according to the latest data released by IQAir.
The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 395, placing it in the “hazardous” category — the most severe level on the air quality scale.
The report shows Kolkata, India (AQI 247), and Delhi, India (AQI 192) following Lahore in second and third place respectively. Cairo (Egypt) and Kampala (Uganda) complete the top five most polluted cities globally.
Experts warn that Lahore’s extremely poor air quality poses serious health risks to residents, including respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Citizens are advised to stay indoors, avoid physical exertion outdoors, and wear high-grade masks when necessary.
Environmental analysts attribute the persistent smog in Lahore to a combination of vehicle emissions, industrial activity, crop residue burning, and stagnant weather conditions that prevent pollutant dispersion.
Despite periodic efforts by the government, including anti-smog guns, to control emissions and restrict crop burning, pollution levels have continued to spike during the winter season.
Brutal Headline!
STAFF REPORTER Please add conversion of fertile land in to not needed housing societies for the last 30 years that actually destroyed AQI in Lahore by cutting down the green fields and by concretization of roads, walls, plaza and houses.
Need to halt new housing societies or their extensions and even selling or auction of spaces by LDA for next 10 years and in those spaces plant trees.