Lahore has been ranked the most polluted city in the world, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 509 on Monday, according to reports. The city sits at the top of a list that also includes several other major cities.
New Delhi ranked second with 221 AQI, while Cairo was third with 201. Dhaka recorded 167, Shanghai 161 and Kolkata 158.
Polluted air from India’s border areas blamed
Reports said polluted air blowing in from India’s Amritsar and Attari areas was pushing up Lahore‘s AQI level. For days, the city has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes and smoke from seasonal farm burning as temperatures drop.
Officials said water was being sprinkled with smoke guns across the city to bring pollution levels down. They added that the AQI could improve as wind speeds rise in the city by 11:00 am.
Minister urges farmers and drivers to act
Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb urged farmers to avoid burning crop twigs and advised citizens to car-pool when travelling. She also said vehicles should not be taken onto roads without a fitness certificate.
Smog has long affected Punjab with the arrival of winter, and authorities have made repeated efforts to contain it in previous years. The province has grappled with severe air pollution that soared to alarming levels, causing serious public health issues. Air pollution in Lahore once rose to more than 80 times the level the World Health Organization (WHO) considers hygienic.
The government closed schools and restricted opening hours for eateries, businesses and markets to protect residents from toxic pollution and related health problems.
