Lahore remained at the top of the list of the most polluted cities in the world with the air quality index (AQI) reaching an extremely low level, indicating a worsening smog situation in the provincial capital.
As Punjab battles with increasing smog with the arrival of winter season, the AQI of Punjab capital dropped as low as 700 this morning (Sunday) before improving to 537, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.
According to the air quality classification by IQAir, the atmosphere becomes “hazardous” to health after the AQI crosses the 300 mark.
An AQI of 0-5 is considered “good”, 51-100 is considered “moderate”, 101-150 is “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, 151-200 is simply “unhealthy”, 201 – 300 is “very unhealthy”, while more than 301 degrees indicates “hazardous”.
IQAir measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5 — and this is 55.6 times more than the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline value in Lahore.
Meanwhile, New Delhi, India, retained its position as the second most polluted city on the scale, with an AQI of 270.
The third most polluted city in the world today is Cairo, the capital of Egypt, where the AQI is 159. Here, the air quality is “unhealthy” for the citizens.
Megacity Karachi ranked fourth in the list this morning as its AQI reached 162 before dropping to the 18th rank with an AQI of 98.
Lahore regularly registers among the world’s most polluted cities, this week recording more than 20 times the level deemed safe by the WHO.
Smog is particularly bad in winter as a result of low-grade fuel from factories and vehicles in the low-lying megacity of 14mn, where denser cold air traps emissions at ground level.
Seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on the outskirts of Lahore is also a major contributing factor.
Bad air quality is a major threat to the health as citizens in the polluted cities develop several medical issues, especially respiratory problems.
According to a report published last year which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health, rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world’s most polluted regions.
In light of the worsening smog situation in Lahore, medical experts have advised those with respiratory issues such as asthma and dust allergies to practice extreme caution to stay safe from the effects of air pollution.
Additionally, citizens have been advised to avoid outdoor exercise, keep their doors and windows closed to prevent dirty air, wear mask and check their vehicles’ fitness among other precautionary measures.
The provincial authorities rush to tackle the worsening smog crisis with all arrangements made to deal hazardous levels of pollution.
This week the Environmental Protection Agency of eastern Punjab province said that outdoor school activities in Lahore would end from Monday.
A Punjab School Education Department spokesperson told AFP on Friday the ban would last for three months until January 31.
School timings have also been changed to 8:45am, taking effect from October 28 till January 31, 2025. The school administrations have been directed to organise students’ assemblies indoors.
Moreover, activities like fireworks have been banned till January, 31, 2025.
