Lahore Endures ‘Hazardous’ Air Quality as AQI Soars to 666, Prompting Emergency Smog Measures

Lahore is grappling with dangerously high pollution levels, retaining its status as the most polluted city globally. According to IQAir, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked to a staggering 666 early Tuesday, far exceeding the “hazardous” threshold. The particulate matter (PM2.5) level reached 376 µg/m³, nearly 75 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.

The Punjab Secretary for Environment Protection, Raja Jahangir Anwar, noted that smog from neighboring regions in India is aggravating Lahore’s air quality, carried by easterly winds at about 4 km/h. New Delhi, with an AQI of 406, is also suffering, ranking as the second most polluted city globally.

To combat the worsening conditions, authorities in Lahore have implemented emergency measures. Primary schools have been temporarily closed, work-from-home protocols activated, and residents urged to stay indoors, use masks, and keep windows shut. A special “Smog War Room” has been set up to coordinate response efforts, monitor pollution, and provide daily updates to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Further actions include a ban on rickshaws and construction in select areas. Factories that fail to meet emission standards now face possible closure. Additionally, students with respiratory and cardiac conditions in Lahore’s special education centers have been granted mandatory leave until January 31, 2025.

Authorities continue to urge residents to limit outdoor activities, keep gardens and ponds covered, and avoid non-essential travel to reduce exposure to the toxic air.