Lahore’s Air Pollution Reaches Record-Breaking Levels Despite Anti-Smog Efforts
LAHORE: Air quality in Lahore reached stunning heights on Saturday as the town’s AQI spiked to over 1,000 despite lively pollution control efforts. According to IQAir, a global air quality tracking platform, the AQI hit an unheard of 1,067 between 8 a.M. And 9 a.M., quickly ranking Lahore as the most polluted town within the world.
AQI Levels Exceed Health Standards
The air pollutants level changed 71.1 times above the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed limit, with PM2.5 pollution—fine particles most harmful to health—hitting a peak of 610. Moreover, WHO guidelines consider any PM2.5 level above 15 unhealthy over a 24-hour period.
Officials Respond to Alarming Readings
Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Environment Protection and Culture Change Department, responded to media reports, pointing out that the extreme AQI figures reported were hourly readings rather than the 24-hour average, which stood at 336. We have never officially recorded an AQI of 1,000, he clarified.
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Lahore’s Air Quality Crisis: Pollution Hits Record Levels, 80 Times Over WHO Limit
As the day progressed, the pollution level began to dip, recording 184 by 3 p.m. and 216 by 7 p.m. Later in the evening, AQI readings varied across the city: the US Consulate registered 290, Cerp Office 261, and Syed Maratib Ali Road 246, with other areas reporting similar high figures.
Government Takes Action Amid Rising Concerns
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb acknowledged the alarming pollution levels in Lahore. She attributed part of the problem to crop burning in nearby Indian states, with winds carrying the smoke into Pakistan. Furthermore, she highlighted that NASA’s air quality data corroborated high emissions from across the border. When the wind direction changed, Lahore’s AQI reportedly dropped to 283.
Green Lockdown and Smog Control Measures
Aurangzeb further detailed the Punjab government’s actions to tackle the smog. These include a green lockdown in key areas such as Shimla Pahari, where frequent water sprays aim to reduce dust and pollution. Additionally, authorities have also cleared encroachments along major roads and are closely monitoring commercial generators and food vendors.
Crackdown on Emissions Violators
The Punjab Police reported over 1,000 arrests and more than 1,300 cases registered as part of a crackdown on excessive emissions. Within Lahore, 73 arrests and 184 cases have been logged. The crackdown has led to impounding of nearly 153,000 vehicles for failing to meet emissions standards, with fitness certificates suspended for nearly 10,000 more.
Seasonal Smog Worsens Health Risks
Lahore’s infamous winter smog is driven by cold air that traps pollutants from diesel fumes, industrial emissions, and agricultural fires at ground level. To curb the crisis, authorities announced new restrictions in four heavily affected hot spots, banning two-stroke rickshaws, unfiltered barbecues, and street vendors with open fires. Starting Monday, government and private offices will implement a partial work-from-home policy.
Citizens’ Concerns Rise Amidst Health Warnings
Health experts have long warned of the dangers of breathing Lahore’s air. The WHO links prolonged exposure to life-threatening issues like heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
As a mother, I’m extremely worried, shared 42-year-old Lilly Mirza. It feels much worse this year. It’s like a pollution bomb went off, and we’re the ones suffering.
For many like Rehmat, a 40-year-old painter, adjusting to the toxic air has become a way of life. If the government can’t solve this, what choice do we have? I’ll just wear a mask and keep working, he said.
As Lahore battles this environmental crisis, the hope remains that these immediate measures will provide some relief from the city’s increasingly hazardous air.