Lahore’s overall Air Quality Index stood at 300 on October 31, as pollution rose noticeably in several neighbourhoods, according to a private international air quality monitoring organisation. Gulberg recorded the city’s highest reading at 445, while Allama Iqbal Town registered 427 and Model Town 332, pointing to serious pollution across the provincial capital.
The figures come as smog worsens in Lahore, which experiences recurring air pollution during the winter months. Vehicle emissions, industrial output, crop-residue burning and weather patterns that keep pollutants near the ground were cited as contributing factors.
Earlier rankings and differing monitoring data
On October 23, IQAir, a Swiss air quality platform, ranked Lahore as the world’s most polluted city with an AQI of 410. New Delhi followed with 203 and Dakar with 196. That reading, taken from IQAir’s live tracker, was separate from the October 31 figures. The organisation said Lahore’s PM2.5 concentration was 45.2 times the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline value.
Also read: Lahore third most polluted city worldwide as smog worsens
The Punjab government’s monitoring platform recorded an AQI of 339 for Lahore at 11am on October 22, using readings from 10 monitoring stations. Gaps between platforms can stem from differences in station locations, data sources, averaging periods and measurement methods.
Lahore was the only Pakistani city in IQAir’s top 20 on October 23, while Karachi appeared on the broader list of 21 cities with an AQI of 110. Earlier in October, Lahore had also topped IQAir’s global ranking on October 2, with an AQI of 167. Separately, the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service placed Lahore among cities experiencing extremely poor ozone levels.
Health risks and advice for residents
Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, raising the risk of serious health complications, particularly with prolonged exposure. IQAir advised residents to avoid outdoor exercise, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside and use air purifiers indoors.
