Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, has topped global rankings for air pollution among major cities, as hazardous smog continues to blanket the region.
The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 358 on Wednesday, 11 November. By Thursday morning, air quality readings in several other cities across Punjab had exceeded 500. The worsening conditions have reduced visibility, disrupted road travel and heightened concerns over the health risks of prolonged exposure.
The scale of the crisis is reflected in high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
An assessment by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) found that Lahore’s average PM2.5 concentration reached 126 micrograms per cubic metre between 1 October and 9 November. That is more than eight times the World Health Organization’s annual guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre?
Pakistan’s 24-hour national air quality standard was exceeded on all 40 days for which valid measurements were available.
The pollution comes from several sources, including vehicle emissions, crop-residue burning, waste burning and industrial activity.
A 2020–21 emissions inventory by the Punjab Urban Unit attributed 35 per cent of Lahore’s PM2.5 emissions to transport, 33 per cent to crop-residue burning, 29 per cent to waste burning and three per cent to industry.
Satellite data revealed 18,825 fires across Punjab between 1 October and 9 November. Of these, 16,714, or around 89 per cent, were identified as likely crop-residue fires.
Seasonal weather conditions are making matters worse. Cooler temperatures, weak winds and a shallow atmospheric mixing layer trap pollutants near the ground, preventing the smog from dispersing.
Punjab authorities have also pointed to pollution drifting across the border from India. However, PAQI’s analysis found insufficient evidence to blame Lahore’s post-Diwali pollution on fireworks alone.
Authorities have intensified efforts to contain agricultural fires and target pollution hotspots. The Punjab Environment Protection Agency reported 679 agricultural fire incidents, with 650 successfully extinguished. Teams have deployed drones, night patrols and rapid-response units to detect and extinguish fires.
Anti-smog guns and mist-spraying operations have also been introduced along designated routes, although their impact remains limited without deeper cuts to emissions.
Longer-term action is also under way. The Punjab Clean Air Programme, backed by a $300 million World Bank loan, aims to cut PM2.5 levels by 35 per cent over the next decade. Planned measures include deploying 5,000 super seeders to manage crop residue and introducing 600 electric buses.
But the latest readings highlight the scale of the task ahead. Lahore’s recurring winter smog will take more than emergency measures to tackle. Sustained cuts to emissions from transport, agriculture, industry and waste will be essential to clearing the city's air.
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