Smog tightens its chokehold on city

LAHORE:

The city experienced unhealthy to hazardous air quality during the first week of November, recording an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268.

The AQI peaked at 335 on November 2.

According to the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI), the pollution level remained very unhealthy for five days and hazardous for two.

The average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) stood at 215.5 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly 14 times higher than the World Health Organisation's recommended limit of 15 micrograms.

An average of 54.8 fire incidents were recorded daily across the city. On days when at least 11 fires were reported, the average AQI stood at 207, compared with 158 on other days.

The PM2.5 concentrations were 25 per cent higher than during the corresponding period last year. Lower night temperatures and wind speeds contributed to the accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere.

An analysis showed that the average AQI was 160 on days when the contribution of winds from India was higher, compared with 187 on other days.

According to SmogRank, the fine particulate matter concentration was approximately 3.2 times higher than its annual average. The data showed that the city experienced high levels of air pollution throughout the year with November and December being the most polluted months.