Lahore AQI soars to 458 amid drop in temperature and air movement

LAHORE: Air pollution levels in Lahore rose temporarily due to weak winds and a drop in temperature, the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said, adding that air quality was expected to improve as temperatures and wind speeds increased after 11am.

According to the EPA, the city recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 458, while readings in some localities were significantly higher. Burki Road recorded an AQI of 609, followed by Allama Iqbal Town at 583 and Model Town at 447. The index stood at 312 in Defence Phase 5 and 223 in Askari 10.

The agency said enforcement operations had continued across Punjab over the past 24 hours to curb pollution. Officials inspected 328 industrial units and 543 brick kilns, sealing 11 industrial units and demolishing four kilns over violations. A total of 11 cases were also registered.

Industrial units were fined a combined Rs1 million, while brick kiln owners were penalised Rs2.05 million for breaching environmental regulations.

The EPA also confiscated 726 kilogrammes of substandard plastic across the province, sealed four locations and imposed fines totalling Rs65,000.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb urged farmers not to burn crop residue and called on residents to refrain from burning rubbish and plastic, warning that such practices contribute to worsening air pollution.