Smog Crisis Worsens in Pakistan

The smog crisis in Pakistan has escalated significantly, particularly affecting Lahore and now extending to various districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Lahore has consistently topped global pollution charts, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching alarming levels.

This situation is exacerbated by air-carrying toxins from India, particularly following the Diwali celebrations, which have contributed to a spike in pollution levels in New Delhi and subsequently in Lahore.

At around 10 AM on Sunday, the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore reached 613, placing it on the real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities, according to Swiss group IQ Air.

The cities worst hit by air pollution after Lahore and Multan were Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, and Sargodha with the poorest air quality.

After Multan in Punjab, where the AQI was recorded at 587 last night, Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ranked as the third most polluted city in the country with an AQI of 587, a level classified as hazardous by the Swiss air quality monitor.

Due to heavy song, major highways and thoroughfares, including the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway and Motorways M1, M2, and M5, were obstructed at multiple locations, leading to significant traffic disruptions across Punjab.

Additionally, routes linking Punjab with Sindh and inter-provincial border areas were also affected by the smog.