Lahore again topped the world’s most polluted major cities on Sunday 1 November, as thick smog pushed air quality into the hazardous range. IQAir’s global ranking put Lahore at an AQI of 420, while the Punjab government’s monitoring system recorded 478 at 7am, according to UrduPoint, Daily Pakistan and 24News. This is the new 1 November reading, higher than Saturday’s level.
Tashkent ranked second at 196, followed by Karachi at 170, Dhaka at 166 and New Delhi at 156. Within Punjab, Gujranwala was the worst-affected city at 500, followed by Lahore at 478 and Sheikhupura at 336. Several Lahore localities recorded 500, including Barki Road, Shahdara, Kahna Nau, Multan Road, Punjab University, GT Road, Gulberg III, Wagah Border and Egerton Road. At 7am the temperature was 19 degrees Celsius, humidity 84 percent, and wind speed just 0.3 metres per second, letting pollutants accumulate.
Health experts advised residents to avoid outdoor activity, wear protective face masks and keep doors and windows closed. The Punjab government has stepped up its anti-smog campaign against smoke-emitting vehicles, industrial units, brick kilns and crop-residue burning.
Sources: UrduPoint (APP), Daily Pakistan (IQAir), 24News. Written in our own words for information only.