Sargodha AQI 344, Faisalabad 296, Multan 287, Gujranwala 274, Kasur 257, Sheikhupura 245
Schoolchildren cross a railway track engulfed in thick smog in Lahore. Photo: AFP
Air pollution levels across Punjab have once again reached alarming heights, with Lahore on Wednesday topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities. According to global air monitoring agency IQAir, the city’s overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 403 a.m., a level deemed “dangerous” for human health. In comparison, the Indian capital, New Delhi, recorded an AQI of 235.
Data from the Punjab Environment Department revealed that air quality in several parts of Lahore deteriorated to dangerous levels early in the morning. The highest values were seen in Kahna Nau, GT Road and Egerton Road, where AQI levels peaked at 500 – the maximum possible limit in the “extremely hazardous” category.
Other localities also reported severe pollution: Shahdara at 391, DHA Phase 6 at 371, Burki Road at 361, Multan Road at 344 and Safari Park at 339. Punjab University area recorded 303, while Wahga border had relatively cleaner air with a reading of 176.
Elsewhere in Punjab, the situation was equally bleak. Sargodha reported an AQI of 344, Faisalabad 296, Multan 287, Gujranwala 274, Kasur 257, Sheikhupura 245, Dera Ghazi Khan 217, Sialkot 162, Bahawalpur 154 and Rawalpindi 130.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lahore’s average AQI is expected to remain between 245 and 275 on Wednesday. The agency expects a sharp increase in pollution between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., due to heavy traffic and a drop in temperature, with the AQI likely to reach 315-340 during these hours. Conditions are expected to improve slightly around midday, with the AQI potentially falling to 180 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., before deteriorating again in the evening, potentially reaching 345 by 11 p.m.
Experts predict that the temperature in Lahore over the next 24 hours will be between 20°C and 31°C, with wind speeds varying from 1 to 10 kilometers per hour. Increased vehicle emissions, open burning of waste and dust have led to an increase in particulate matter (PM10), significantly contributing to the deterioration of air quality.
Global air quality datasets indicate that October and November have consistently been the most polluted months in Lahore over the past four years. As of October 2022, the city’s average AQI stood at 182, with 19 days classified as “unsanitary.” While October 2023 saw some improvement with an average of 128, November of the same year climbed again to 205. The averages for 2024 were recorded at 163 in October and 184 in November, while in 2025, the two-month average stabilized around 171. Notably, in these four years, Lahore did not witness a single day with a “good” air quality.
The city’s annual average AQI has remained consistently high – 184 in 2022, 121 in 2023, 126 in 2024 and 117 in 2025 – indicating that pollution levels, although fluctuating, continue to pose serious risks to public health.
Ali Ejaz, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Agency in Lahore, attributed the seasonal spike in pollution to stubble burning, vehicle emissions and changing weather conditions. He added that although the government has introduced several measures to combat smog, lasting improvement requires both strict enforcement and public cooperation. He urged citizens to wear masks, avoid burning waste and ensure proper maintenance of vehicles to minimize emissions.
