Sargodha AQI 344, Faisalabad 296, Multan 287, Gujranwala 274, Kasur 257, Sheikhupura 245
School children walk across a railway track engulfed in dense smog in Lahore. Photo: AFP
Air pollution levels across Punjab have once again reached alarming heights, with Lahore topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday. According to global air monitoring agency IQAir, the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 403 in the morning — a level deemed “hazardous” to human health. In comparison, India’s capital, New Delhi, registered 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 readings were observed 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. The Punjab University area recorded 303, while the Wahga Border had relatively cleaner air with a reading of 176.
Elsewhere in Punjab, the situation was similarly grim. 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 on Wednesday is expected to remain between 245 and 275. The agency forecasted a sharp rise in pollution between 6 am and 9 am, due to heavy traffic and a temperature drop, with AQI likely to surge to 315–340 during those hours. Conditions are expected to improve slightly around midday, with AQI possibly falling to 180 between 12pm and 5pm, before worsening again in the evening, potentially reaching 345 by 11pm.
Experts predict Lahore’s temperature over the next 24 hours will range between 20°C and 31°C, with wind speeds varying from 1 to 10 kilometers per hour. Increased vehicular emissions, open waste burning, and dust have led to a surge in particulate matter (PM10), contributing significantly to the worsening air quality.
Global air quality datasets indicate that October and November have consistently been Lahore’s most polluted months over the past four years. In October 2022, the city’s average AQI stood at 182, with 19 days classified as “unhealthy.” While October 2023 saw some improvement with an average of 128, November that year spiked again to 205. The averages for 2024 were recorded at 163 in October and 184 in November, while in 2025, the two-month average settled around 171. Notably, during these four years, Lahore did not witness a single day with “good” air quality.
The city’s annual average AQI has remained persistently high — 184 in 2022, 121 in 2023, 126 in 2024, and 117 in 2025 — indicating that pollution levels, though fluctuating, continue to pose serious public health risks.
Ali Ejaz, Deputy Director at the Environmental Protection Agency Lahore, attributed the seasonal spike in pollution to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and changing weather conditions. He said that while the government has introduced several measures to curb smog, lasting improvement requires both strict enforcement and public cooperation. He urged citizens to wear masks, avoid burning waste, and ensure proper vehicle maintenance to minimize emissions.
