Karachi Tops Global Pollution Rankings as Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Very Unhealthy’

Karachi’s air quality plummeted to “very unhealthy” levels for the first time in a month, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 212 on Saturday morning. This made Karachi the most polluted major city globally, according to IQAir’s rankings. The concentration of PM2.5 pollutants in the air was 27.4 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended levels.

The AQI’s brief crossing of the 200 threshold marked a significant deterioration in air quality, posing severe health risks to residents. However, a slight improvement saw the AQI drop to 194 later in the morning. IQAir attributes Karachi’s pollution to vehicle emissions, garbage burning, and industrial discharges, which collectively contribute to the city’s toxic atmosphere.

In Lahore, air quality remains dangerously poor as the city recorded an AQI value of 298, placing it as the second most polluted city globally. This figure came perilously close to the “hazardous” category, reflecting the ongoing pollution crisis in Punjab. For nearly two months, Lahore has consistently ranked among the most polluted cities worldwide, as smog continues to engulf the region. Seasonal factors, including low-grade fuel emissions and crop residue burning, have compounded the pollution, trapping harmful particles in the cooler, slow-moving winter air.

Meanwhile, New Delhi retained its position as the world’s most polluted city. Persistent exposure to toxic air has dire health implications, with the WHO warning of heightened risks of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses. Residents in affected cities are grappling with the long-term health consequences of breathing in hazardous air, as efforts to mitigate pollution struggle to make a lasting impact.