Lahore’s Air Pollution Reaches Record High, Exceeds WHO Safe Levels by 80 Times

Lahore – Air pollution in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, hit unprecedented levels on Saturday, with PM2.5 pollutants soaring to 1,067, over 80 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 10. According to Jahangir Anwar, a senior official at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Lahore, this marks a record high for the city. Levels later dropped to around 300, though still well above what is considered hazardous.

For days, Lahore has been blanketed by smog—a harmful mix of fog and pollutants. The main contributors include low-grade diesel emissions, smoke from agricultural burning, and winter atmospheric conditions that trap pollutants at ground level.

"The air quality index will remain elevated over the next three to four days," Anwar warned. In response to the alarming pollution levels, the EPA has imposed new restrictions across four of the city’s worst-affected areas. Tuk-tuks with polluting two-stroke engines are now banned, and eateries using open barbecues without filters must cease operations. Government and private offices will reduce in-person staffing by half starting Monday, while construction activities are on hold. Street and food vendors, who often rely on open-fire cooking, must close by 8 p.m.

Smog has become particularly intense during winter as colder, denser air traps emissions from low-quality fuels used in vehicles and industrial operations, worsening air quality and creating health hazards for Lahore’s residents.