LAHORE has received another warning that its air pollution crisis cannot be treated as a problem that begins with winter smog. A new assessment by the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service places the city among those with “extremely poor” ground-level ozone levels. Unlike the protective ozone layer high in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant formed when sunlight and heat act on emissions from vehicles, industry and other sources. The finding is especially troubling because rising temperatures can intensify its formation. Lahore is, therefore, confronting a year-round interaction between dirty air, urban emissions and climate change. Globally, almost 40pc of the population was exposed to extremely high ozone levels this year, according to CAMS. Asia fared even worse, with about 60pc of its population facing such exposure.

Punjab deserves credit for acting earlier this year. Its pre-smog crackdown on construction dust, waste and crop burning, brick kilns and vehicle emissions was a welcome shift from reactive governance. But the latest assessment reinforces the point made then: temporary drives will not be enough. Ozone cannot be reduced by targeting dust alone. The government must cut the precursor gases that create it, particularly nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. That means rigorous vehicle emissions testing, cleaner fuels, stronger industrial controls, reliable public transport and enforcement against open burning. Lahore also needs continuous monitoring that separately tracks ozone, particulate matter and other pollutants, with readings and enforcement data made public. Agricultural residue management must be supported with affordable alternatives to burning, while industries and kilns should face sustained compliance checks. Urban planning, traffic policy and energy use must also be treated as air quality policy. The province must recognise that Lahore’s pollution emergency does not end when the winter haze lifts. Clean air requires permanent policy, transparent enforcement and measurable reductions in emissions.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026