Lahore ranks as the world’s ‘most polluted city,’ as per recent data released by IQAir, signalling a severe environmental crisis in the provincial capital of Punjab. Despite efforts by the local government to combat the growing smog, the city’s air quality has plummeted, with an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 208. This is the second time in a week that Lahore has topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-pollution measures.
Lahore Ranks as World’s ‘Most Polluted City’ Again
For the second time in one week, Lahore ranks as the world’s ‘most polluted city.’ IQAir data shows the city’s AQI at 208, while independent monitoring by the US embassy recorded an even higher reading of 252. The city outpaced New Delhi, which ranked second with an AQI of 164. What’s more alarming is that these pollution levels were recorded on a day when educational institutions were closed and traffic was minimal due to the holidays, questioning the earlier assumption that transport was the primary contributor to pollution.
Efforts to Tackle the Growing Pollution Crisis
Despite governmental interventions, Lahore continues to suffer from hazardous air quality. The Punjab government has been cracking down on industrial units, brick kilns, and other sources of pollution, but the results are yet to show significant improvement. Officials have noted that transport contributes 39% of the city’s pollution, but with minimal traffic on the roads, the root causes seem more complex, the government has also engaged local authorities and initiated public awareness campaigns, yet the city’s residents are still exposed to what has been deemed the dirtiest air in the world.
Read more: Punjab Plans on Using Artificial Rain to Reduce Smog
