LAHORE:
The Punjab capital on Saturday topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities with an average air quality index (AQI) of 266, considered very unhealthy by health experts.
The highest AQI reading in the city exceeded 500.
IQAir data revealed that the city’s PM2.5 concentration was 38.2 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual reference levels.
According to the data, Lahore was followed by Dhaka with an AQI of 238. Other cities among the top 10 most polluted were Delhi (214) and Chongqing in China (182).
Within Lahore, the most polluted areas included Polo Ground Cantt (555), Burki Road (414), DHA Phase V (380), Tufail Road near Rahat Bakery (374), Mini-Market Gulberg (364), Askari 10 ( 356), Valencia City (356), GCU Hiking and Mountaineering Club (354), United States Consulate (334) and Thokar (302).
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast mainly cold and dry weather in Lahore and other districts of Punjab.
He said a cold wave is expected to persist in Lahore and other parts of Punjab on Sunday.
Patchy fog and smog is likely in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Kasur, Okara, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar and surrounding areas during morning hours and the night. Fog persisted in flat areas.
The minimum temperature in Lahore was recorded at 4°C and the relative humidity at night was 57%.
