LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore topped the ranking of the world’s most polluted major cities on Friday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 344, as doctors advised residents to wear masks to protect themselves from hazardous air pollution.
According to data recorded at around 8am, Swiss air quality monitoring platform IQAir ranked Lahore first, with air quality falling in the hazardous category.
IQAir identified fine particulate matter PM2.5, which is associated with cancer and other serious health conditions, as the city’s main pollutant. Its concentration was recorded at 57 times the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline.
These microscopic particles can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and severe chronic respiratory illnesses.
Delhi Ranks Second Among Most Polluted Cities
India’s capital, Delhi, ranked second among the world’s most polluted major cities, recording an AQI of 244, classified as very unhealthy.
Dakar in Senegal recorded an AQI of 184, while India’s Mumbai and Kolkata registered readings of 179 and 172, respectively. Air quality in all three cities was classified as unhealthy.
Iqbal Town records highest AQI in Lahore
Pollution levels varied across Lahore, with Iqbal Town recording the city’s highest AQI of 535.
Airwash on Bedian Road recorded an AQI of 497, followed by Kahna at 446 and Defence Phase 5 at 360. The AQI stood at 350 in Model Town and 253 on Barki Road.
Seasonal conditions worsen smog
Cooler seasonal air can trap pollutants close to the ground, contributing to a hazardous mix of crop-residue smoke, traffic emissions, industrial fumes and construction dust.
Delhi is frequently ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals, with authorities often attributing its annual smog crisis to the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.
Air pollution poses serious health risks
UNICEF has warned that polluted air places children at increased risk of acute respiratory infections. A 2023 study also found that air pollution can reduce life expectancy by more than five years in parts of South Asia.
Across the region, severe smog regularly disrupts daily life, forcing school closures, slowing transport and placing additional pressure on public health systems.