Lahore has topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 260, placing it in the “unhealthy” category, according to latest air monitoring data.
Several areas of the provincial capital reported extremely high pollution levels. The highest AQI was recorded around the CERP office at 372, followed by Iqbal Town with an AQI of 382. Pollution levels on Barki Road stood at 338, while Bedian Road recorded an AQI of 239.
In other parts of the city, the AQI was reported at 236 in areas around DHA Phase 7, 231 on Abdullah Khokhar Town Road, and 230 in surrounding areas of Bedian Road. Askari 10 recorded the lowest pollution level among the monitored areas, with an AQI of 204, which also falls in the unhealthy range.
Medical experts have advised citizens to take precautionary measures in view of the deteriorating air quality. They have urged the public to limit outdoor activities, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions, and to make the use of face masks mandatory when going outside.
Health professionals warned that prolonged exposure to such high pollution levels could lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, stressing the need for immediate protective measures until air quality improves.