Diwali smog from India chokes Punjab

Air pollution levels across eastern Pakistan have sharply increased following the Diwali festival in neighbouring India, with smog drifting across the border into Punjab's major cities, severely deteriorating air quality.

According to the Punjab Air Quality Monitoring Network, Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 287 on Saturday morning, while Kasur stood at 331, Sheikhupura at 311, Faisalabad at 277, Gujranwala at 178 and Multan at 204.

Among Punjab's cities, Kasur currently ranks as the most polluted, followed by Sheikhupura and Lahore.

The global environmental monitoring platform IQAir reported that Lahore was presently the most polluted city in the world, with an AQI of 298, followed by New Delhi, which recorded 283.

In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Punjab government has initiated large-scale measures to combat smog during the Diwali period.

Anti-smog guns have been activated, while special night operations have begun in high-pollution zones such as Thokar and surrounding areas to reduce particulate matter levels.

According to the Environment Protection Department (EPD), six polluted air masses from Amritsar, Ludhiana and Haryana are expected to affect Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Multan.

The department warned that pollution levels will remain high during the early morning and night hours, with minor improvement expected around midday.

The Punjab Smog Monitoring Centre has issued an advisory urging citizens to take preventive measures, including wearing face masks and avoiding unnecessary outdoor activities, particularly for children, the elderly, and patients with respiratory conditions.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasised that reducing smog requires active public participation.

She appealed to citizens to strictly follow environmental SOPs and fully cooperate with the government's anti-smog efforts to help bring air quality under control.