Lahore remains world’s most polluted city as Punjab AQI crosses 500

Lahore once again topped the global air pollution rankings on Thursday as toxic smog continued to affect the city and several other parts of Punjab. Air quality levels reached hazardous limits in multiple cities, with some recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 500 or above.

A recent report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) has also highlighted a sharp deterioration in Lahore’s air quality. It found that the city’s air pollution increased by 32 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Punjab’s air quality monitoring data showed that Lahore recorded an AQI of 346 at 8am on Thursday. This was 98 points lower than the reading of 444 recorded at the same time on Wednesday. Despite the improvement, pollution levels remained dangerously high.

Readings from IQAir showed Lahore’s AQI fluctuating between 344 and 371 at different times during the day. The city retained the top position in the global pollution rankings, while India’s capital, New Delhi, stood second.

The situation was equally concerning in other parts of Punjab. IQAir recorded an AQI of 519 in Raiwind, 515 in Bahawalpur and 507 in Multan. Gujranwala also reported a high reading of 411.

Punjab’s monitoring network recorded pollution levels reaching 500 in Kasur, Jhang, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Pakpattan and Sahiwal.

Within Lahore, Kahna Nau recorded the highest AQI of 423. Multan Road and DHA Phase VI followed with readings of 414 each. Egerton Road recorded 390, Safari Park 380, Barki Road 364 and Shahdara 357.

The PAQI report, covering November 4 to 10, 2026, revealed that Lahore’s average concentration of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, reached 207.1 micrograms per cubic metre. This was 32 per cent higher than the average of 156.4 micrograms recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The city’s average AQI during the seven-day period stood at 257. PM2.5 concentrations remained above Pakistan’s National Environmental Quality Standards limit of 35 micrograms per cubic metre on all seven days.

November 9 emerged as the most polluted day during the reporting period. PM2.5 levels reached 253.7 micrograms per cubic metre, while the AQI climbed to 303. The average concentration was around 13.8 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended 24-hour guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.

The report identified unfavourable weather conditions as one of the factors behind the worsening situation. Wind speeds were 32 per cent lower than last year, reducing the movement and dispersal of pollutants. These weather conditions accounted for an estimated 16 per cent increase in pollution levels.

Satellite data from NASA also highlighted the scale of fires across the region. A total of 4,933 fire incidents were recorded in Pakistan and India between November 4 and 10. Of these, 2,824 occurred in Pakistan and 2,104 in India.

The report linked winds passing over fire-affected areas with increased pollution in Lahore. PM2.5 concentrations were found to be 124 per cent higher on days when winds travelled across these locations.

Lahore’s average PM10 concentration also reached 435.4 micrograms per cubic metre during the same period. This was nearly three times Pakistan’s permissible limit of 150 micrograms per cubic metre.

A review of nine years of available air quality data showed that the first week of November 2026 was the fourth most polluted week recorded during the period, highlighting the persistent severity of the city’s smog problem.