Citizens are strictly advised to keep vehicle windows closed and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities: Marriyum Aurangzeb
People use masks to protect themselves from morning smog while riding bicycles along a road in Lahore. Photo: Reuters
The Punjab government has made the use of face masks mandatory for motorcyclists amid increasing air pollution across the province. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that the government has completed many preparations to minimize the impact of cross-border pollution.
“We have activated the anti-smog guns and started spraying water on a large scale on the main arteries since yesterday evening,” the state minister said in a statement on Monday.
“Citizens are strongly advised to use masks, keep vehicle windows closed and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, especially in the morning and evening, when smog tends to thicken,” she added.
Authorities have also made wearing masks mandatory for cyclists in Lahore and other urban centers. Smog guns and watering operations are underway in key areas including Karim Block, Multan Road, Ravi Bridge, Shahdara Flyover, Thokar Niaz Baig, Upper Mall Scheme and GT Road.
Municipal administration officials have been directed to ensure that construction materials at ongoing construction sites and vehicles transporting goods are fully covered to minimize dust emissions.
The EPA said a slight improvement in air quality was expected between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. due to slight atmospheric changes, but warned that haze and low visibility could persist throughout the day.
The agency also urged citizens to refrain from burning waste, a common practice in rural and urban areas that further intensifies particle pollution.
Thick layers of smog cover Punjab
Thick layers of smog continued to blanket Punjab on Monday as polluted winds from India crossed the border, sharply deteriorating air quality in several cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad and Kasur.
According to data released by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, the province’s average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 177 — a level considered “unhealthy” for sensitive groups.
EPA figures show that Kasur once again tops the list of Punjab’s most polluted districts, with an AQI of 268. Faisalabad follows closely with an index of 248, while Dera Ghazi Khan and Lahore record AQI levels of 229 and 227 respectively.
Sahiwal, Multan and Gujranwala also reported AQI levels above 170, highlighting that the smog crisis has spread widely in central and southern Punjab. In Lahore, the situation was particularly alarming in several localities.
Kahna Nau and the FMD Research Center reported AQI readings above 300, putting them in the “very unhealthy” category, while other areas, including Shadra, Egerton Road and Safari Park, recorded levels between 220 and 265.
Environment experts attribute worsening air quality to Diwali in India
Meteorological data indicates that winds blowing at around five kilometers per hour from Indian cities, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala and Gurdaspur, began carrying high concentrations of particles into Pakistani territory.
Officials said Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar were directly affected. Similar winds from India’s Jodhpur and Jaipur regions also contribute to haze over southern Punjab.
Environmental experts say that apart from India’s Diwali celebrations, during which large-scale fireworks are set off, the burning of crop residues also releases dangerous levels of pollutants into the atmosphere. The fallout, they said, was now drifting west.
Lahore, second most polluted city in the world
At the same time, international monitoring platforms place Lahore as the second most polluted city in the world, behind Delhi (180th). Other major cities on the list include Karachi (167), Kolkata (158) and Mumbai (156), highlighting a regional smog crisis in South Asia. Environmental experts warn that if current weather conditions persist, pollution levels could continue to rise over the coming days.
The EPA stressed that public cooperation and long-term planning are essential to minimizing the impact of smog. “Every little action counts,” the agency said in its advisory. “Reducing vehicle use, avoiding open burning and maintaining vehicles in good condition are key steps towards cleaner air. The fight against smog cannot be won by government measures alone – it requires joint efforts.”
Authorities plan to continue daily monitoring and release updated AQI reports to guide the public to minimize the impact. As winter intensifies and winds slow, experts warn that Punjab could experience recurring waves of smog unless regional coordination and strict enforcement measures are maintained on both sides of the border.
