Lahore ranks second globally as air pollution persists across Punjab

Air quality remains a concern for residents, children, older people, those with respiratory, heart conditions

LAHORE:

Lahore ranked second among the world's most polluted major cities on IQAir's live air quality tracker on Monday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 199, as pollution remained a concern across Punjab ahead of the peak winter smog season.

The city's position and pollution reading fluctuated during the day. IQAir's Lahore city page recorded an AQI of 139 at 3pm on October 26, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) identified as the main pollutant at 51 micrograms per cubic metre. The reading placed Lahore in the unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups category on the US AQI scale.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency's monitoring data also showed considerable variation in air quality across the province. Pakpattan recorded an AQI of 210, followed by Multan at 204 and Sargodha at 195. Vehari registered 178, Kot Addu 176, Dera Ghazi Khan 165 and Khushab 160.

PUNJAB AQI UPDATE
26 OCTOBER
Average AQI: 144 (Moderate)

Highest : D.G. Khan 213
Lowest: Talla Ganag 96
Lahore: 178

PM2.5 remains dominant.

Check local AQI: https://t.co/wfP4JGWQ7g#EPAPunjab #PunjabAQI pic.twitter.com/L1QTpH6TVL

— Environmental Protection Agency, Punjab (@EPAPunjab) October 26, 2026

Read: Lahore tops global pollution ranking

Mandi Bahauddin recorded an AQI of 159, Sahiwal 158, Jhelum 157 and Attock 156. Lahore's reading stood at 151, placing it 18th among 31 cities in the provincial ranking, while Nankana Sahib recorded the lowest reading at 35.

The figures highlight the uneven distribution of pollution across Punjab, with some districts recording substantially higher readings than the provincial capital. An AQI of 151 falls into the unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups category on the US AQI scale, while readings above 200 indicate very unhealthy air.

Weather conditions are also relevant as the province enters the winter smog period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department's forecast issued on Monday predicted dry weather across most districts of Punjab on Tuesday, with cold conditions expected in the morning and at night in hilly areas.

🌤️ Weather Update:
Dry weather is expected in most parts of Pakistan. However, partly cloudy weather is likely in the northern areas, with cold weather is expected during night hours.#PakistanWeather #PMD #WeatherUpdate #coldweather #dryweather pic.twitter.com/8VwX2M5LzW

— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) October 26, 2026

Lahore's maximum temperature was forecast to range between 29°C and 31°C on Tuesday, with a similar range expected on Wednesday. The forecast did not indicate rain over the provincial capital in the period covered.

Read More: Lahore faces the return of toxic smog

The absence of forecast rainfall means there is no immediate indication of rain-related relief for Lahore, although actual pollution levels will continue to depend on changing atmospheric conditions and emissions. Dry weather alone does not establish how the AQI would change.

As temperatures decline, air quality remains a concern for residents, particularly children, older people and those with respiratory or heart conditions. Health experts advise people to reduce outdoor exertion when pollution levels are elevated and to limit the entry of polluted outdoor air into indoor spaces.