Hazardous smog blankets Punjab, Lahore and Bahawalpur worst affected

Air pollution in Punjab has once again surged to dangerous levels, placing Lahore as the second most polluted city in the world.

According to international monitoring agency IQAir, Lahore’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 318, with some areas showing readings as high as 647 to 855. The Forest Department and Ravi Road areas were identified as the most polluted.

Punjab’s Air Quality Monitoring data indicates Lahore’s AQI at 397, making it the second-most polluted city in the province. Experts note that the provincial monitoring system does not register readings above 500, suggesting that actual pollution levels could be even higher. Shahdara, Kahna, Punjab University, DHA Phase 6, Wagah Border, Barki Road, and Safari Park were among the worst-affected zones, where AQI reached the system’s maximum reading of 500.

Other cities facing hazardous pollution

Across Punjab, Bahawalpur currently has the highest pollution level with an AQI of 620. Multan (427), Faisalabad (418), and Gujranwala (379) also fall in the hazardous zone.

Govt measures and public participation

The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD), in its October 2025 report, stated that government actions and public participation in anti-smog initiatives have resulted in slight overall improvement.

During October, EPD teams conducted 28,675 inspections targeting polluting factories and brick kilns. The department issued 707 notices, carried out 381 demolitions, 521 sealings, and filed 567 FIRs, resulting in fines totaling Rs5.88 crore. Under the Plastic-Free Punjab campaign, 28.8 tonnes of plastic bags were seized. Industrial areas also saw the installation of 32 mist sprinkling systems and 79 water recycling plants.

Environmental awareness was promoted in schools, with 2,070 institutions implementing waste segregation SOPs. Water and air quality monitoring continued with 163 water samples, 112 fuel quality tests, and 89 stack emission checks. In the transport sector, 763 heavy vehicles were inspected and 7,042 ETS tests completed, reducing vehicle emissions. Public engagement included 21,983 citizens signing pledges for a plastic-free environment.

Govt plans for long-term smog control

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed relevant departments to expand field operations using advanced technology, drone monitoring, and comprehensive data reporting to tackle smog sustainably.

Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the government’s environmental strategy goes beyond numbers, representing a holistic system that relies on public cooperation, industrial discipline, and educational awareness. She emphasised that making Punjab smog-free is not just a campaign, but a collective movement.