Lahore Tops the World Again as Most Polluted City, While Bahawalpur Records Hazardous AQI of 426
Lahore, The Gulf Observer: Lahore has once again ranked as the most polluted city in the world. A global environmental monitoring website recorded the city’s air quality index (AQI) at 235, a level that puts the health of millions of residents at serious risk.
Lahore finished ahead of Kolkata, the Indian city that came second with an AQI of 227. Smog now covers much of South Asia, and the region’s two biggest cities are among the worst affected.
Bahawalpur Hits a Hazardous 426
Lahore’s reading was not the worst in Pakistan. Bahawalpur topped the national list with an AQI of 426, far above Lahore’s own figure. That reading sits well inside the “hazardous” band, the most severe level on the air quality scale, where everyone faces a risk to their health.
Lahore Air Quality: Area-by-Area Breakdown
Readings across Lahore showed high pollution in almost every neighbourhood:
CRP Office, Gulberg: 298
Burki Road: 291
Cantt: 264
Iqbal Town: 239
Model Town: 230
DHA (Defence): 214
Askari 10: 167
Gulberg recorded the city’s highest reading. Askari 10 had the lowest, but at 167 its air was still unhealthy.
Residents Urged to Take Precautions
AQI readings at these levels can cause breathing problems, eye irritation and throat infections. They also make existing heart and lung conditions worse. Children, older people and anyone with asthma or other respiratory illnesses are at the greatest risk. People are advised to limit time outdoors, wear face masks and keep windows closed during peak smog hours.
The latest rankings show again that the smog crisis is getting worse in Punjab. Pressure is growing on the authorities to take stronger, long-term action against pollution caused by vehicles, industry and crop burning.
