Lahore again topped the global list of cities with the worst air quality on Friday morning, October 2, according to live data from air quality monitoring platform IQAir. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 167, placing it in the “unhealthy” category. Dhaka in Bangladesh followed with an AQI of 164, while Cairo recorded 158.
The ranking changed during the day as pollution levels shifted. By 2pm, Lahore had dropped to 10th place, with its AQI falling to 149. Karachi was the only other Pakistani city in IQAir’s 125-city ranking, standing at 34th in the morning with an AQI of 69.
IQAir reported that Lahore’s PM2.5 concentration was 15.2 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual guideline. PM2.5 consists of very small particles that can enter the body through breathing and pose health risks.
Air pollution in Lahore is linked to several sources, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, crop residue burning and weather conditions that trap pollutants. Authorities have advised people to limit outdoor activity when pollution levels are high.
