Lahore has been ranked the world’s most polluted major city, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 344 on Friday morning, as medical professionals urged residents to wear masks to guard against hazardous air pollution.
IQAir Data Places Lahore Ahead of Delhi
According to data recorded at around 8am by Swiss air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Lahore topped the global ranking, with air quality falling squarely into the hazardous category. India’s capital, Delhi, ranked second with an AQI of 244, classified as very unhealthy.
Dakar in Senegal recorded an AQI of 184, while India’s Mumbai and Kolkata registered readings of 179 and 172 respectively. Air quality in all three cities was classified as unhealthy.
PM2.5 Levels Far Exceed WHO Guidelines
IQAir identified fine particulate matter PM2.5, which is linked to cancer and other serious health conditions, as the city’s main pollutant. Its concentration was recorded at 57 times the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline.
These microscopic particles can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and severe chronic respiratory illnesses.
Iqbal Town Records City’s Highest Reading
Pollution levels varied sharply across Lahore, with Iqbal Town recording the city’s highest AQI of 535. Other neighbourhoods also registered alarming readings:
- Airwash on Bedian Road: AQI 497
- Kahna: AQI 446
- Defence Phase 5: AQI 360
- Model Town: AQI 350
- Barki Road: AQI 253
Seasonal Conditions Trap Pollutants
Cooler seasonal air can trap pollutants close to the ground, contributing to a hazardous mix of crop-residue smoke, traffic emissions, industrial fumes and construction dust.
Delhi is frequently ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals, with authorities often attributing its annual smog crisis to the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.
Health Risks Mount Across South Asia
UNICEF has warned that polluted air places children at increased risk of acute respiratory infections. A 2023 study also found that air pollution can reduce life expectancy by more than five years in parts of South Asia.
Across the region, severe smog regularly disrupts daily life, forcing school closures, slowing transport and placing additional pressure on public health systems.
