Lahore has once again found itself choking under a blanket of toxic smog, topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities, according to global air monitoring platform IQAir, as cited by ARY News on Sunday.
The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at a staggering 274, placing it well within the “unhealthy” range for the general population. Several neighbourhoods reported even more alarming figures, Allama Iqbal Town registered an AQI of 459, Gulberg 396, Shadman 384, Model Town 362, and Lahore Airport 398.
Environmental authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and minimise outdoor exposure, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments. Officials, however, expressed hope that an increase in wind activity might bring slight relief later in the day.
In a bid to tackle the worsening air crisis, the Punjab government has launched its first large-scale anti-smog gun operation in Lahore. Conducted in the Kahna area, the drive reportedly reduced local pollution levels by nearly 70 per cent.
Also read: Despite rains, Delhi remains second most polluted city in India
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb shared a video of the operation on X, hailing it as a significant success in the state’s environmental campaign.
“This 70% decrease in air pollution has been scientifically analysed & confirmed by our advanced environmental monitoring system,” she said, noting that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s direction, Kahna’s AQI dropped dramatically, from 666 to 170, after the anti-smog guns were deployed.
Lahore’s struggle with air quality is not new. Earlier in January, the city ranked among the world’s worst again, when the AQI surged to 529, a level classified as hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO). The main pollutant, PM2.5, was recorded at 35.6 times above WHO’s safe limits, Dawn reported.
While the Punjab government’s recent intervention has offered some temporary respite, experts warn that structural reforms, including cleaner fuel use, industrial regulation, and sustainable transport, remain essential to prevent Lahore from slipping into another smog season.
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