Lahore retains top position among most polluted cities in the world

Lahore has once again been ranked as the most polluted city globally, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching alarmingly high levels across various areas, as reported by 24NewsHD TV on Sunday.

The city’s AQI spiked from 600 to a staggering 1917 in places like DHA Phase 8. Other high readings include the CERP Office at 1515, Syed Maratib Ali Road at 1264, Askari-10 at 1257, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam at 783, and the US Consulate at 694, bringing the overall pollution percentage to 773.

Health experts are advising residents to wear masks during outdoor activities to limit exposure to harmful pollutants. 

The minimum temperature in Lahore today is 21°C, expected to rise to 32°C, with dry weather conditions likely to persist throughout the day.

Thick smog which gripped the provincial metropolitan from the last few days is due to poisonous winds entering Pakistan from India due to the burning of crops, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

According to a map released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which also showed that due to conversion in angles of winds, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level decreased in Lahore, while the Indian capital New Delhi remained in second and Calcutta stood at third position in AQI level around the globe.

Pakistani authorities asked the citizens to adopt precautionary measures to curb the spreading of smog. The authorities will implement this plan strictly.

Yesterday, air pollution in Pakistan's second biggest city Lahore soared more than unprecedented 80 times over the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with an official calling it a record high.

The level of deadly PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter in the air that causes the most damage to health—peaked at 1,067 before dropping to around 300 in the morning, with anything above 10 considered unhealthy by the WHO.

"We have never reached a level of 1,000," Jahangir Anwar, a senior environmental protection official in Lahore told AFP.

For days, Lahore has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and winter cooling.

"The air quality index will remain high for the next three to four days," Anwar said.

Smog continued to haunt the people of Lahore as the city again topped the list of the world’s most-polluted cities on Saturday with the air quality index (AQI) in the city topped 1000, making the mockery of tall claims made by the Punjab government that it was taking steps to bring down the pollution levels, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Strong winds, laden with thick smoke, blowing from India exacerbated the problem while the weathermen forecast that the situation would persist during the next 48 hours.

USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released the map, detailing how polluted air was entering Pakistan from India.

On Wednesday last, the provincial environmental protection agency announced new restrictions in four "hot spots" in the city.

Tuk-tuks equipped with polluting two-stroke engines are banned, as are restaurants that barbecue without filters.

Government offices and private companies will have half their staff work from home from Monday.

Construction work has been halted and street and food vendors, who often cook over open fires, must close at 8 pm.

Smog is particularly pronounced in winter, when cold, denser air traps emissions from poor-quality fuels used to power the city's vehicles and factories at ground level.

Reporter: Afshan Rizwan