Lahore Tops World Pollution Index as Smog from India Engulfs Punjab Cities

LAHORE  — Punjab’s air quality has deteriorated sharply as polluted winds from India continue to sweep across the province, pushing major cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala into the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

According to the latest data, Lahore once again topped the global Air Quality Index (AQI) with a hazardous reading of 312, while India’s New Delhi ranked second with 239. Other major Punjab cities recorded alarming figures — Faisalabad (540), Gujranwala (371), Multan (364), and Bahawalpur (250) — all falling in the hazardous to very unhealthy category.

Environmental experts said that slow northeastern winds blowing from Indian Punjab and Haryana have carried smoke from crop residue burning into Pakistan. Due to low wind speeds between 4 and 9 km/h, harmful particles like PM2.5 and PM10 are not dispersing, trapping toxic air near the ground and worsening smog conditions.

Hospitals in Lahore have reported a surge in respiratory illness cases, while doctors have advised the public to wear masks, use air purifiers, and avoid outdoor activities—especially during early mornings and evenings when smog levels peak.

Read More : School Timings Changed Due to Air Pollution in Punjab

Under the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government has launched an intensified anti-smog operation in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Gujranwala. Special anti-smog squads have been activated to inspect industrial zones and brick kilns, with heavy fines and immediate penalties being imposed on violators.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased monitoring efforts using modern air sensors and cross-border data analysis, while the Agriculture Department has been directed to promote eco-friendly stubble management methods such as super seeders and green machinery to reduce crop burning.

Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has appealed to citizens to stay indoors after 8 p.m., avoid late-night outdoor dining, and limit exposure for children and elderly people. She also announced that school outdoor activities have been suspended and class timings revised — schools will now start at 8:45 a.m.

Authorities continue to monitor air conditions closely as Punjab battles one of its worst smog waves in recent years.