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LAHORE: The provincial capital, the cultural heart of Pakistan, has unfortunately earned the title of the most polluted city in the world, according to the latest rankings from Swiss-based air-quality monitoring group IQAir.
The city’s PM2.5 concentration is a staggering 25.2 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual air quality guideline value, rendering the air “very unhealthy” for its citizens.
As of October 3, the air quality index in Lahore stood at 215, a significant increase of 40 points from September 30, indicating a worsening air quality just ahead of the smog season. This puts Lahore ahead of other notoriously polluted cities like Kinshasa and Jakarta.
However, not all cities in Pakistan are experiencing severe pollution. Cities like Haripur, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, and Karachi have moderate air quality, offering some respite.
To combat the growing smog problem, the Punjab government has implemented various measures. These initiatives include shutting down brick kilns, issuing fines to smoke-emitting vehicles, and launching public awareness campaigns to promote environmental health.
The government’s efforts are guided by policies such as the Punjab Clean Air Action Plan and the Smog Ban and Fine Order 2022.
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