Pakistan: Lahore ranked world’s most polluted city as air quality hits hazardous levels

Lahore has been declared the world’s most polluted city, with an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 354, marking it as “Hazardous,” according to IQAir’s latest rankings. Karachi, another major city in Pakistan, ranks 13th on the list, with an AQI of 164, categorizing it as “Unhealthy.”

The dire air quality poses significant public health risks for the residents of both cities, with Lahore, home to over 11 million people, bearing the brunt of the crisis. Factors such as vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and crop burning have long contributed to Lahore’s poor air quality, intensifying during winter when smog envelops the region.

The health impact has been severe. In the past month alone, nearly 1.9 million people in Lahore have fallen ill due to smog-related issues, with over 129,000 seeking hospital treatment for respiratory ailments. Additionally, more than six million people have been diagnosed with cardiothoracic conditions linked to air pollution, while an average of 69,000 individuals report daily symptoms such as chest pain, strokes, and other respiratory problems.