Lahore is the Most Polluted City in the World
Lahore has once again topped the list as the most polluted city in the world, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at an ‘Unhealthy’ level on Thursday morning. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring organization, Lahore’s air pollution reached alarming levels, peaking at an AQI of 175 around noon.
The concentration of PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, was measured at a staggering 14.1 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value. PM2.5 is a critical indicator of air quality, reflecting the presence of harmful particles in both outdoor and indoor environments.
In the global ranking of polluted cities, Lahore was followed closely by New Delhi, India, which registered an AQI of 166 (also categorized as ‘Unhealthy’), with PM2.5 levels 16.8 times above WHO recommendations. The competition between Lahore and New Delhi for the title of the most polluted city is an annual occurrence, with both cities frequently swapping positions at this time of year.
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates also made the list, ranking as the third most polluted city with an AQI of 157, marking it as ‘Unhealthy’ as well. The ongoing issue of unhealthy air quality in Lahore has persisted not only over the past few months but also throughout the last few years, particularly during the onset of the seasonal smog, commonly referred to as the ‘fifth season.’ Air quality typically deteriorates from September through at least February.
In recent days, Lahore’s air quality index has consistently hovered above 160, with readings of 175 recorded on Wednesday and 178 the day prior. Following Lahore, the second most polluted city in Pakistan on Thursday was Peshawar, with an AQI of 157.
>In contrast, the world’s cleanest city, as reported by IQAir, is Nagoya, Japan.
