In recent years, several cities in Pakistan have experienced alarming levels of air pollution. According to data from the World Air Quality Index (AQI), Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi are Pakistan’s most polluted cities.
While these cities frequently exceed WHO air quality guidelines, data suggests that all of Pakistan’s 238 million residents live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution exceeds these limits, with 98.3% of the population residing in some of the most heavily polluted regions in the country.
Furthermore, according to IQAir’s 2022 ranking of the world’s most polluted countries and regions, Pakistan was ranked as third most polluted. In 2022, the world’s 50 most polluted cities were predominantly located in India and Pakistan.
The effects of air pollution in Pakistan are far-reaching to both human health and the environment. High levels of air pollution have been linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and premature death, with some reports suggesting that South Asians lose an average of five years of life expectancy due to air pollution.
To safeguard public health and ensure a sustainable future, it is imperative that the Pakistani government implements comprehensive policies, strengthens environmental regulations, and invests in cleaner technologies to effectively combat this growing crisis.
Nida Azeem
Pidrak, Kech
