Lahore Tops Global Pollution Charts as Smog Intensifies with AQI Reaching “Hazardous” Levels

Lahore residents woke up to grey skies once again on Monday as the city, the capital of Punjab, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 532, placing it at the top of the world’s most polluted cities. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, Lahore has led global pollution rankings for nearly a week, signaling a severe and worsening smog crisis.

The city faces heavy pollution every winter, with cold temperatures trapping dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke, further worsening air quality. On Sunday, the situation reached alarming levels with the AQI soaring to 700, leading the Punjab Environment Protection Department to issue a smog alert.

IQAir’s AQI classification deems air quality “hazardous” for health at readings over 300, while levels below 50 are considered “good” and levels above 200 are “very unhealthy.”