LAHORE (The Thursday Times) — Lahore ranked as the second most polluted major city in the world on Monday, according to IQAir’s live air quality tracker, as dirty air settled over much of Punjab ahead of the peak winter smog season.
IQAir recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 199 in Lahore at one point on Monday, close to the “very unhealthy” threshold of 200 on the US AQI scale. Readings swung through the day, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant.
Worse outside the capital
Pollution was not limited to the provincial capital. The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency’s daily update for October 26 put the province’s average AQI at 144, in the moderate range. Dera Ghazi Khan recorded the highest reading at 213 and Talagang the lowest at 96, while Lahore stood at 178.
Southern and central districts such as Pakpattan, Multan and Sargodha were also among the worst affected during the day, with readings around or above 200.
No rain in sight
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast dry weather across most of Punjab on Tuesday, with cold mornings and nights in the hilly areas. Lahore’s maximum temperature is expected to stay between 29°C and 31°C on Tuesday and Wednesday, with no rain forecast for the city.
Without rain, there is no immediate prospect of relief, although pollution levels will still depend on wind, temperature and emissions.
Health experts advise children, older people and anyone with heart or breathing conditions to cut down on outdoor activity when the air is bad, and to keep polluted outdoor air out of their homes as far as possible.
