Lahore continues to become an international headlines by topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities. This happened on Wednesday as per data gleaned by the global air quality monitor IQAir.
A day earlier, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had hit a dangerous level of 422. Although it dropped slightly to 341, the air remained in the “hazardous” category. A long story short, Lahore remains the most polluted city in the world, followed by New Delhi with an AQI of 232, Beijing at 222, Kinshasa and Kathmandu with 155 each and Karachi at 140.
The Punjab government has taken serious notice of the worsening situation and issued a high alert across the province. To protect students, school timings have been changed, with classes now starting at 8:35am.
The Lahore Waste Management Company has also started a citywide anti-smog operation. It has deployed 16 mechanical washers, 50 regular washers, and 400 workers to clean roads and sprinkle water to control dust.
Even though the Punjab government claims to lead the efforts to fight smog, but the data speaks otherwise. The fact is that it is long-term war and government’s dedication reflects a strong commitment to improving the environment. A strong follow-up is needed to Punjab will see improvements like Beijing. According to a report by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), the province recorded an environmental violations score of 294 this year, which indicates a high level of pollution.
Action is underway against factories and plants that are releasing harmful smoke and gases. Despite government efforts, that Lahore’s smog crisis is far from over.
They say a long-term solution requires better urban planning, cleaner transport, and strict control over industrial pollution. For now, the city remains covered in a grey haze, as millions of people struggle to breathe in what has become a dangerous routine each winter. *