Lahore ranks as the most polluted city, with Karachi struggling under ‘very unhealthy’ air conditions

Lahore has been declared the world’s most polluted city, with air quality deteriorating to “hazardous” levels as smog blankets vast areas of Pakistan.

As reported by Buzz observer, IQAir revealed that Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) soared to an alarming 303, well beyond the “hazardous” limit.

Meanwhile, Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic center, reported an AQI of approximately 200, categorizing its air quality as “very unhealthy” and ranking it as the fourth most polluted city in the world.

The concentration of PM2.5 pollutants in Lahore’s air was 24.2 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, significantly increasing health risks for residents. Karachi’s air quality, while slightly better, remained mostly above 200 after midnight, improving marginally to 197 later in the day.

Both cities, home to millions and major industrial hubs, are grappling with severe pollution driven by vehicle emissions and industrial activities. However, the smog crisis extends beyond Lahore and Karachi.

Multan ranked as Pakistan’s second most polluted city with an AQI of 294, followed by Rawalpindi at 220 and Peshawar at 204. Islamabad, the federal capital, placed seventh with an AQI of 170.

The smog crisis has intensified fears about its long-term effects on public health. Experts note that even before the current extreme pollution levels, air pollution accounted for approximately 12% of deaths among children under five in Pakistan.

This year’s record-breaking pollution is anticipated to have severe consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, with potentially devastating health outcomes.