Smog in Lahore. Photo file: REUTERS
Lahore has risen to the second spot among the world’s most polluted cities, according to global air quality monitoring organization IQAir. On Sunday, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 209, placing it just behind India’s capital New Delhi, which topped the list with an AQI of 218.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that easterly winds have contributed to worsening smog conditions in Lahore. The agency predicted that the city’s average AQI would remain between 195 and 210 throughout the day, classified as “very unhealthy.” Experts have also warned that air quality could deteriorate in the coming days due to increased fireworks during Diwali celebrations in India.
Environmental health experts have described this level of pollution as dangerous, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses, and advise them to stay indoors and limit outdoor exposure.
Read: East wind worsens Lahore smog
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, wind speeds are expected to range between 1 and 9 kilometers per hour, which may temporarily improve air quality around midday. The AQI is expected to fall to 150 between 12pm and 5pm, before rising again to between 165 and 200 in the afternoon hours.
In response to deteriorating conditions, the Punjab government has intensified its anti-smog operations in Lahore. Following the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Environmental Protection Force, police, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the district administration have launched a joint crackdown on overloaded and smoke-emitting vehicles entering the city. Trucks and cars transporting construction material without adequate protection are also being stopped.
To control dust emissions, nighttime water spraying operations are carried out at construction sites. The Chief Minister has directed all relevant departments to submit daily progress reports and enhance public awareness campaigns on smog prevention.
Read more: Punjab bans use of coal and wood in restaurants to curb worsening air quality
Meanwhile, the campaign against stubble burning continues across Punjab. The provincial government has deployed 91 balers and 814 Kubota machines to collect crop residue from thousands of acres and convert it into forage bales. Experts say this initiative represents a positive step towards reducing air pollution and mitigating the effects of smog.
