Lahore Now The Most Polluted City in the World

Green Watch Monitoring Report 

The air quality in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city and the capital of  Punjab province with 110 million population, has dropped to "hazardous" levels due to high levels of toxins in the atmosphere. This makes Lahore the most polluted city in the world, according to latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data. 

The latest data showed that Lahore has crossed the 400 US Air Quality Index mark, which means its air quality is hazardous, the worst possible. The healthy air quality is below 50 US AQI, which measures PM2.5 particles. This means Lahore's air is 80 times more polluted than a healthy level.

 For context, Pakistan is a South Asian country with a population of over 240 million people. Lahore, with a population of over 11 million, is a major cultural, economic, and educational hub. Punjab province, where Lahore is located, is the country's breadbasket and contributes significantly to Pakistan's agricultural output. The second most polluted city in AQI  list is New Delhi, India, with a very unhealthy air quality (AQI level 285). After Delhi comes United Arab Emirates' Dubai (AQI level 166). Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, ranks 13th.

Causes of Pollution

Pakistan's pollution problem is largely due to:

1. Agricultural waste burning: Farmers in Punjab burn crop residue, releasing toxic pollutants.

2. Vehicle exhaust: Lahore's growing population and lack of public transportation lead to increased vehicle emissions.

3. Power production: Pakistan relies heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Seasonal wind patterns exacerbate the issue. In winter, wind flows from Pakistan to India, trapping pollutants in the city.