Lahore is one of the most populous cities in Pakistan. People across the world call it the Crown Jewel of Pakistan. This is because Lahore has a lot of historical significance for Pakistan. Ever since the Independence of Pakistan, this city has held great importance. However, amidst the grace of Lahore, a virus has gripped it for the last few years. Cleanliness has become quite a problem for the people of Lahore. Several studies have shown that Lahore has now become the most polluted city in the world. One promising study shows that New Delhi ranks second while Lahore is at the top of the list. Today, it’s ranked yet again as the most polluted city in the world according to IQAir.

IQAir Report of Real-time Data 

According to experts at IQAir, Lahore has shown significant signs of unhealthy air. The air quality index of Lahore stands at a staggering value of 166. It is difficult to pinpoint it all on one single pollutant. However, at this moment, the concentration of the pollutant PM2.5 is high in the air. It’s not just high, it’s an astonishing 16.8 times higher than normal standards set by the WHO. The AQI value of Lahore peaked on Friday, 6th October, 2023. It was recorded as an astounding 182 by IQAir.

This isn’t the first time Lahore has ranked at the top of the list. For the last few years, the condition has been worsening and we’ve seen that first-hand due to the excessive smog. Interestingly, Lahore isn’t the only city that ranks in the top 5. Peshawar and Faisalabad also rank during the years. 

The Causes of Pollution in Lahore

There are several causes of pollution in Lahore. Lahore is somewhat of an industrial city. The improper disposal of waste products from certain industries leads to a rise in pollution. Many of these are not just bad but are also cancer-causing (carcinogenic) in nature. This includes industries that release Chromium Hexavalent (Cr +6) ions into the water. 

Moreover, the air pollution in Lahore is the highest in winter. The main reason behind this is the fact that farmers burn off their crop remains. These remains combined with the smoke from brick kilns lead to massive smog in Lahore in winter. 

How to Overcome This?

The first step is to make sure the real-time data is available to the general public. This way once they know how much polluted air they breathe, they can take precautionary measures. The government should create eco-friendly policies. Industrialists should be encouraged to take production outside of city limits. Individuals need to take responsibility and realize that it’s on them to make Lahore clean and green again.

Moreover, the residents of Lahore need to take more responsibility and ensure that their homes remain as clean as possible. The government officials need to run campaigns in schools to educate the youth as the future is more in their hands than ours. Traffic emissions also need to be supervised. Pakistan’s looming climate change crisis