Smog crisis deepens across Punjab as three cities hit AQI 500

Smog continued to blanket Lahore and several cities across Punjab, with Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu and Nankana Sahib recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 500, according to the provincial environmental monitoring dashboard.

Lahore topped IQAir’s global ranking of the most polluted major cities with an AQI of 298, followed by Kolkata at 189 and Delhi at 186. However, the provincial dashboard recorded Lahore’s AQI at 433, placing it fourth among Punjab cities.

Sheikhupura recorded an AQI of 348, Kasur 343, Sahiwal 338, Wazirabad 326, Khushab 310 and Faisalabad 307, highlighting the widespread pollution across the province.

Earlier, Lahore’s AQI crossed 500, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 343 micrograms per cubic metre at 8am, according to IQAir data reported by Dawn. Gujranwala also recorded hazardous pollution levels.

NASA satellite data detected 13,241 fire spots across Punjab between October 1 and 29, according to an analysis by environmental monitoring website HamariHawa. Around 92 per cent of the detections were on farmland and were likely associated with crop-residue burning.

Vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, brick kilns, construction dust and waste burning also contribute to deteriorating air quality. Weak winds and dry weather can further hinder the dispersal of pollutants.