The Punjab Environment Protection Department has issued a smog alert for the province following a significant drop in Lahore’s air quality index (AQI), which has severely affected visibility in the city. Lahore has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world, with the AQI reaching a hazardous level of 700 before improving slightly to 537, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.
The AQI classification by IQAir indicates that any level above 300 is considered “hazardous” to health. The current situation in Lahore far exceeds this threshold, posing serious health risks to its residents. The smog is exacerbated by polluted air entering Lahore from neighboring Indian cities such as Amritsar, New Delhi, and Chandigarh, with winds carrying smog-laden air at a speed of 7 kilometers per hour.
Residents of Lahore have been advised to take precautionary measures, including checking the AQI before outdoor activities, wearing masks, keeping children indoors, and avoiding travel to heavily polluted areas. The Lahore traffic police have also warned motorists to exercise caution due to reduced visibility, which has dropped to one kilometer.
Environmentalists have described the air quality in Lahore as “very dangerous” and are calling for an environmental emergency. Medical experts have warned of an increase in respiratory and other health issues due to the hazardous air quality.
The smog crisis is attributed to several factors, including the use of low-grade fuel in factories and vehicles, as well as seasonal crop burning by farmers around Lahore. These conditions are particularly severe in winter, as cold air traps emissions at ground level in the densely populated city of 14 million people.
In response to the crisis, Punjab authorities have implemented several measures. Outdoor school activities in Lahore have been banned until January 31, 2025, and school timings have been adjusted to start at 8:45 AM from October 28. School assemblies are to be held indoors, and activities such as fireworks have been banned until the end of January.
The ongoing air quality crisis poses a significant threat to public health, with studies indicating that rising air pollution could reduce life expectancy by more than five years in South Asia. Punjab authorities are urgently working to address the smog crisis and mitigate its impact on the population.
