Pakistan Among World’s Most Polluted Countries

Pakistan continues to face a deepening air pollution crisis, ranking as the world’s third most polluted country, with average PM2.5 levels recorded at 73.7 micrograms per cubic metre, far above limits recommended by global health experts.

Conditions are particularly severe in large cities such as Lahore, where winter smog frequently pushes PM2.5 concentrations beyond 145 micrograms per cubic metre.

These hazardous levels framed much of the discussion at a Climate Action Dialogue held in Lahore by BYD Pakistan–Mega Motor Company.

Research by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics has identified the transport sector as a central driver of the country’s emissions problem, contributing more than 43 percent nationally and up to 80 percent in densely populated urban centres like Lahore.

Speakers at the dialogue stressed that cleaner and more sustainable transport systems represent one of the most immediate and manageable ways to curb emissions and improve air quality, especially in high-density cities.

With smog worsening year after year due to multiple structural challenges, the forum brought together energy researcher Dr Naveed Arshad, climate expert Ali Tauqeer Shaikh, and climate finance specialist Mehak Masood to explore how clean mobility solutions can be implemented at scale.

Opening the session, Danish Khaliq, Vice President of Sales and Strategy at BYD-MMC, said new energy vehicles significantly cut tailpipe emissions, a major source of urban smog.

He also highlighted the potential economic gains, noting that if clean vehicles achieved 30 percent market penetration, they could add nearly Rs. 1.3 trillion to the economy and create up to 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs, even before accounting for health and air quality benefits.

Khaliq said global industry leaders can help close key gaps by bringing technical expertise, supporting charging infrastructure, and sharing international experience, while simultaneously building local capacity to ensure clean mobility is both scalable and sustainable in Pakistan.

He added that close coordination between the private sector and government could greatly accelerate adoption.

The dialogue concluded with calls for stronger implementation of the National Electric Vehicle Policy, the introduction of meaningful incentives for cleaner vehicles, and the removal of regulatory bottlenecks that continue to slow progress toward sustainable transportation.