Lahore, Karachi rank among world’s most polluted cities with unhealthy air quality

Lahore and Karachi ranked among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, with both cities experiencing “very unhealthy” air quality levels. Pakistan continues to struggle with severe smog and pollution, affecting the health and daily lives of millions.

Lahore topped the global air pollution charts with an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 266 at 9:14 a.m., according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir. Karachi, with an AQI of 216, placed third. Dhaka, Bangladesh, ranked second, while India’s New Delhi, with an AQI of 189, was in fourth place, showing significant improvement from earlier spikes.

Smog’s Impact on Punjab and Karachi

Punjab has been grappling with toxic smog for over two months, with Lahore bearing the brunt of the crisis. In Karachi, air quality deteriorated to “very unhealthy” levels for the first time in a month last week, with PM2.5 pollutant levels in the atmosphere recorded at 27.8 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines.

Karachi’s stint in the “very unhealthy” category was brief, as its AQI improved to 173 by 10:20 a.m. However, the city’s air quality continues to decline as cooler temperatures set in, with the Met Office predicting night-time temperatures to drop as low as 15°C during the ongoing week.

The annual pollution crisis in Punjab is fueled by low-grade fuel emissions from factories and vehicles, compounded by seasonal crop burning by farmers. These pollutants are trapped by cooler winter temperatures and slow-moving winds, creating a hazardous blanket of smog.

While Karachi faces a similar decline in air quality during the winter months, Dhaka and New Delhi also contend with air pollution issues, though the latter has seen some improvement after addressing unprecedented levels last month.

The WHO has repeatedly warned of the catastrophic health consequences of prolonged exposure to toxic air. Pollutants can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses, with vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly at higher risk.

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