Experts believe that government measures alone cannot be recognized, because favorable weather conditions played a key role.
LAHORE:
In Lahore and several other cities of Punjab, the smog situation in 2025 was slightly better than last year. Yet while the government attributes the improvement to its timely intervention, critics remain skeptical, viewing the improvement as the result of both government measures and favorable weather conditions.
According to Punjab State Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, a comprehensive strategy has been adopted this year to combat smog. The measures included cracking down on brick kilns, installing filters and scrubbers in industries, controlling vehicle emissions, banning the burning of crop residues, controlling dust from construction activities, and establishing anti-smog teams. The government says these policies have led to improvement in air quality in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.
However, air quality data and expert opinions present a different picture. Environmental specialists point out that the intensity of smog depends not only on human activities, but also on weather conditions. During the current season, higher wind speeds, low precipitation and temperature fluctuations have reduced the formation of temperature inversion, a condition that typically traps smog close to the ground.
Dr Zulfiqar Ali, an environmental expert at Punjab University, said the smog season usually lasts from late October to mid-December. “This year, wind direction and speed have been relatively favorable, preventing smog from reaching the intensity seen last year. While AQI levels in some areas have reached dangerous levels, recorded as high as 500, strong winds have helped disperse harmful particles such as PM2.5,” Dr Ali said.
Independent researchers pointed out that even though the AQI had dropped noticeably on some days, Lahore still ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. Environmental lawyer Rafay Alam said major sources of air pollution in Lahore, such as the transport sector, old diesel vehicles, industrial emissions, brick kilns and waste burning, remained largely unchanged.
“The reduction in severe smog waves in November 2024 and 2025 was mainly due to favorable weather conditions, including better air circulation and seasonal changes, rather than government actions. Overall, the air quality this year was not significantly better than last year,” Alam said.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan, vehicle emissions and poor quality fuels are the main causes of smog and air pollution. Measures such as smog guns may provide temporary, localized relief, but are not lasting solutions. WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan stressed that clean fuels, strict vehicle emission standards and effective enforcement were the only long-term solutions.
The Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) reported a notable reduction in smog intensity this year compared to last year; however, the improvement remains unsatisfactory. According to the report, air quality throughout November remained at a “very unhealthy” level, with Pakistan’s national environmental standards being exceeded every day.
The PAQI further reported that air pollution reduces the average life expectancy of Pakistanis by 3.9 years and is linked to approximately 128,000 premature deaths per year. In Lahore, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 was 22 times higher than WHO guidelines, causing residents to lose an average of seven years of life.
Reports further indicate that in a single week in November, around 6,500 patients visited Mayo Hospital, 5,000 were reported at Jinnah Hospital and around 4,000 each at wards and general hospitals. The total number of patients affected by air pollution and smog in November was estimated at 130,000.
Experts believe government measures have helped to some extent, but it is not scientifically accurate to attribute the current improvement entirely to government success. The real test will come in the coming years, when it will be clear whether the Punjab government can tackle the root causes of air pollution through sustainable, scientific and structural reforms.
