Lahore continued to rank among the most polluted cities in the world for the second consecutive day, with hazardous air quality persisting across the provincial capital and several other cities in Punjab, according to air quality monitoring data released on Monday.
Data compiled by IQAir showed extremely high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across the province at around 7pm. Sialkot recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 603, followed by Gujrat at 429, Lahore at 362, Kahna Nau at 360, Hundal at 294, Bahawalpur at 234, Gujranwala at 213, Faisalabad at 189 and Jhelum at 177.
Lahore’s air quality deteriorated sharply during the day, with the city’s AQI peaking at 549 around noon. Residents have been exposed to hazardous air conditions for the past two days, raising serious public health concerns.
Within the city, multiple monitoring stations reported dangerously high pollution levels on Monday evening. The CERP Office recorded an AQI of 599, Iqbal Town 577, Model Town 447, Barki 402, DHA 388, Civil Secretariat 352, Bedian Road 350, Johar Town 330 and Askari-X 294.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said cold and dry weather conditions were expected to persist across most districts of Punjab, further worsening smog formation. It also forecast moderate to dense fog during morning and night hours in several cities, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura.
Read More: Lahore ranks second in world’s most-polluted cities list
A report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) revealed that Lahore failed to record a single clean air day in 2024 under World Health Organisation standards. The report stated that average PM2.5 concentrations stood at 104.6 micrograms per cubic metre, far exceeding safe limits and contributing to an estimated reduction of seven years in average life expectancy.
PAQI identified transport, industry and brick kilns as the main contributors, accounting for more than three-quarters of PM2.5 emissions in Lahore.
Meanwhile, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said authorities were intensifying enforcement actions against polluters. She urged citizens to wear masks, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and follow safety advisories. Dense fog also led to the temporary closure of the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (M-11) on Monday evening.
Read More: Viral infections surge in ‘unhealthy’ Lahore; rain likely today