Eastern wind worsens Lahore smog

Air pollution in Lahore and several other cities of Punjab reached hazardous levels due to cold temperatures and polluted air drifting in from India.

IQAir, a global air quality monitoring platform, ranked Lahore as the most polluted city in the world in the morning.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that polluted air from across the eastern border had increased the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), causing a sharp decline in Lahore's air quality. Low wind speeds prevented the dispersion of pollutants, causing them to accumulate near the ground.

According to global air quality data, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 228 in the morning with Lahore at 211. In the afternoon, IQAir reported Lahore's AQI at 174, followed by Kolkata at 154 and Delhi at 149.

The Smog Monitoring Centre reported that pollution levels were highest between 6:00 and 11:00am, with minor improvement till 5:00pm and a rise again afterwards.

Health experts advised citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with respiratory or heart conditions, to avoid outdoor exposure and keep windows closed.