LAHORE: Thick pollution and unhealthy air conditions gripped several cities on Wednesday as Lahore once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, according to an international air quality monitor.
Lahore’s air quality index hit 353, showing dangerously high levels of particulate matter. Within Pakistan, Quetta recorded an even worse reading of 517, making it the most polluted city in the country early in the morning.
Air quality in Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad also fell into the unhealthy range. Dense fog covered the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab, severely reducing visibility on highways. Many motorway sections were closed to traffic due to the poor conditions.
Punjab faces widespread smog every winter, and despite repeated efforts, pollution continues to worsen. Last year, the province faced a severe smog episode that raised major health concerns.
Lahore remained covered in a thick layer of smog for days, caused by a mix of fog, emissions from low-quality fuel, and smoke from seasonal crop burning. At one point, the city’s pollution levels reached more than 80 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit.
To protect citizens, the government previously shut down schools and cut operating hours for restaurants, markets and other businesses to reduce exposure to the unhealthy air.