Several cities across Punjab were engulfed by air pollution on Sunday, with Lahore remaining at the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities. The provincial capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded 297.
The air was described as extremely unhygienic in Lahore’s Raiwind area, where particulate matter soared to 719. The AQI in the Kahna area of the city recorded 507.
Air quality readings across other Punjab cities
Faisalabad recorded an AQI of 354, Sargodha 326 and Multan 298 on the same day. Health experts advised citizens to wear masks and observe safety measures to avoid harmful effects.
Also read: Lahore tops world pollution list as Punjab smog worsens · Lahore ranks most polluted city in world at 509 AQI
Smog returns each winter as authorities respond
Air pollution and smog have troubled Punjab with the onset of winter, and in previous years authorities made determined efforts to contain smog during cold weather. The province has faced severe pollution that reached alarming levels and caused serious public health problems.
In Lahore, smog is a mix of fog and pollutants, caused by low-grade diesel fumes and smoke from seasonal agricultural burning as temperatures drop. At one point, pollution in the city reached more than 80 times the level deemed hygienic under World Health Organization parameters. To protect the public, the government closed schools and restricted opening hours for eateries, businesses and markets.
