Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, has reached a grim milestone in air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting an unprecedented 1,067 on Saturday. For comparison, any AQI reading above 300 is considered “hazardous” for human health. The scale of pollution has placed the city of 14 million people in a state of alarm, as smog continues to envelop the skyline and choke residents.
Environmental officials have declared this the highest AQI level recorded in the city to date. “We have never reached a level of 1,000,” said Jahangir Anwar, a senior environmental protection official in Lahore. Anwar further warned that the air quality is likely to remain high for the next few days due to ongoing emissions and seasonal factors, creating heightened anxiety for families and workers across the city.
One of the main contributors to Lahore’s severe pollution is PM2.5, fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and even entering the bloodstream. On Saturday, PM2.5 levels peaked at 610 µg/m³ in Lahore—40 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit of 15 µg/m³ for a 24-hour period. Prolonged exposure to such levels poses grave health risks, particularly respiratory diseases, lung cancer, heart disease, and strokes.
Lilly Mirza, a 42-year-old resident, expressed her fear and frustration as a mother, worrying for her child’s well-being in the current conditions. “As a mother, I am full of anxiety. Last year was not this bad; it was much better. Somebody needs to tell us what has happened. Did a pollution bomb explode somewhere?” Mirza said after taking her son to a local sports match, only to feel “completely terrorized” by the air quality.
Lahore’s smog crisis is fueled by a combination of factors. The cool winter weather causes temperature inversions, trapping pollutants close to the ground. Meanwhile, widespread burning of crop residue by farmers, low-grade diesel emissions, and industrial pollution continue to exacerbate the problem.
This seasonal trend in Lahore worsens as emissions accumulate, making winter months particularly perilous for residents. “The smell of toxic fumes has become normal now,” said Rehmat, a 40-year-old painter who has resorted to wearing a mask every day to cope with the fumes. “What can a poor painter like me do if the government can’t fix this? I will keep the mask on and work.”
The dense smog has disrupted daily life and raised public anxiety, especially among parents, teachers, and workers. Last month, local authorities implemented measures to protect children, banning outdoor exercise in schools until January and adjusting school hours to avoid peak pollution periods. Children, who breathe faster and have less developed lungs, are at heightened risk from air pollution. Additionally, families with elderly members and individuals with pre-existing respiratory issues face severe risks.
In response, authorities have also imposed restrictions in four of the most polluted areas within the city. Polluting vehicles, such as two-stroke engine tuk-tuks, have been banned, while street food vendors and other businesses that use open fires are now required to close by 8 pm. Private companies and government offices will transition to a hybrid model, allowing half of their workforce to work from home.
The broader impact on Lahore’s population health is staggering. According to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the life expectancy of Lahore residents is reduced by an average of 7.5 years due to sustained high levels of pollution. This reduction is significantly worse for children and older adults who are especially vulnerable to prolonged exposure to air pollutants.
The government has begun responding to the crisis with short-term measures, but these actions have faced criticism for being insufficient. Last week, the provincial environmental protection agency imposed additional restrictions in designated “hot spots,” including bans on tuk-tuks and unfiltered open-air barbecues. Construction activities were also halted in an effort to reduce dust and industrial emissions.
However, residents have expressed frustration that these measures do not address the root causes. A mother of two shared her concerns in an interview: “It’s not just a few days of smog. This is our everyday life now. I want my children to have a future, and with this air quality, I’m afraid for their health every single day.”
Air pollution has not only impacted health but has also disrupted economic activities and livelihoods. The restriction on food vendors, construction projects, and vehicle operations affects thousands who depend on daily wages. Many families rely on small food businesses or street vending for income, and restrictions on evening hours have made it difficult for them to earn a living.
Small business owners and workers have urged the government to focus on long-term policies that will tackle the sources of pollution. The shift to remote work for many office employees has eased some congestion, but it has done little for those unable to work from home, such as laborers, vendors, and public transport drivers.
Lahore’s air pollution crisis is part of a larger regional issue affecting South Asia. UNICEF estimates that nearly 600 million children in the region are exposed to hazardous air quality levels. Air pollution contributes to over 50% of pneumonia-related deaths among children in the region, as per UNICEF data, further underscoring the health impacts on younger populations.
While various South Asian governments have implemented anti-pollution measures, coordination and consistency across borders remain challenges. In recent years, countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have seen worsened air quality due to factors like rapid urbanization, increased reliance on low-grade fossil fuels, and inefficient waste disposal.
