LAHORE: The provincial metropolis of Lahore was ranked as the most polluted city in the world at 8:30pm on Sunday, according to the air quality index (AQI).

The AQI was reported to be at an unhealthy level of 266 from 9am to 8:30pm. The primary pollutants were PM2.5 and PM10, with concentrations of 55 µg/m³ and 118 µg/m³. Nitrogen Dioxide and Ozone levels were reported to be fair, with concentrations of 22 µg/m³ and 67 µg/m³.

The AQI level indicates that health effects can be immediately felt by sensitive groups, and healthy individuals may experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation with prolonged exposure.

The PM2.5 concentration in Lahore is currently 53.8 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value, which is a cause for concern.

In the global context, Lahore’s AQI again ranked at the top in the world, just leaving behind Delhi, India. This ranking is a stark reminder of the urgent need for effective measures to combat air pollution in the city.

The administration is urged to take immediate action to improve the air quality in Lahore and citizens are advised to limit outdoor activity and take necessary precautions to protect their health.

Two days ago, the provincial caretaker government had lifted all types of restrictions earlier imposed on 10 districts of the province as the air quality of the city improved three days ago due to light rain.

The government had also opened schools which were closed on Saturday and Sunday and also reopened the markets to operate.

However, the environment experts said that Lahore and its adjacent regions were witnessing one of the worst times in terms of air quality.

They said the air quality only improved due to rain but the air quality remained unhealthy and very unhealthy on most days.

They said the Punjab government had imposed a smart lockdown aimed at reducing traffic but got limited results due to lack of a targeted approach.

They said the government was continuing multiple large construction projects in the city during smog season while the construction was restricted during smog days.

They said the government would need a comprehensive and targeted policy and should cover major polluting sectors along with better coordination, capacity and enforcement.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2023