Lahore air quality hits 'hazardous' levels; Delhi ranks second globally
The city recorded an AQI of 533 around 9am, ranking among the highest globally at the time, as a dense toxic haze lingered over Lahore for days, reducing visibility and driving a surge in respiratory complaints across Punjab.
IQAir identified the main pollutant as PM2.5 fine particulate matter known to cause cancer which measured 341.9 µg/m³, 68 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual guideline.
These tiny particles can enter the bloodstream, raising the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions.
Residents reported throat irritation, shortness of breath, and itchy eyes, while health experts urged people to stay indoors during peak smog hours and wear N95 or P100 masks when venturing outside.
Across the border, New Delhi also remained in the hazardous range, recording an AQI of 508 around 8am before dropping slightly to 446.
Its PM2.5 level stood at nearly 60 times the WHO limit, as the sprawling city of 30 million continued to be blanketed by dense winter smog.
Cool winter air traps pollutants close to the ground, creating a deadly mix of crop-residue smoke, vehicle emissions, industrial fumes, and construction dust.
Delhi is routinely listed among the world’s most polluted capitals, with authorities often blaming annual smog spikes on farmers burning crop stubble in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.
Meanwhile, Kolkata ranked third on the global pollution index as much of South Asia experienced a seasonal surge caused by thermal inversion a phenomenon where a warm air layer traps colder, polluted air near the ground.
Experts warn that this “lid effect,” combined with increased emissions from heating and idling vehicles, produces a thick, toxic blanket over cities during winter months.
UNICEF has cautioned that polluted air places children at higher risk of acute respiratory infections, while a 2023 study found that chronic air pollution could reduce life expectancy by over five years in some South Asian regions.
Daily life is also affected, with smog forcing school closures, slowing transport, and placing additional strain on healthcare systems.
In Pakistan, Punjab’s first advanced Smog Monitoring and Control Centre continues to track real-time air quality, while anti-smog guns have been deployed at key hotspots across Lahore to help mitigate the crisis.
Authorities and health experts have urged residents to reduce exposure by staying indoors during high AQI hours, improving indoor ventilation with MERV-13 or higher filters, using HEPA air purifiers, avoiding indoor smoke sources, and maintaining hydration.
Consuming antioxidant-rich foods and omega-3 fatty acids may also help the body counteract pollution-related oxidative stress.
Experts note that while short-term mitigation can reduce exposure, long-term improvement depends on stricter policy enforcement, cleaner energy transitions and sustained regional cooperation — particularly as winter deepens and the seasonal dynamics of air pollution continue to intensify across South Asia.
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