Lahore smog hits “hazardous” levels as AQI surges above 600

LAHORE: Lahore woke up on Thursday under another heavy blanket of smog, with visibility dropping sharply across the city as pollution levels surged to dangerous highs. Despite the deployment of anti-smog guns and other control measures, the toxic haze continues to thicken with each passing day.

According to air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Lahore’s air quality was ranked as “hazardous” on Thursday morning, recording a shocking 603 on the US Air Quality Index (AQI). The main pollutant was PM2.5, a fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious health issues.

City suffocates under thick haze

The smog was particularly visible along Ring Road Lahore, Thokar Niaz Baig, DHA Phase 4-9, and Bedian Road, where visibility dropped and residents reported irritation in eyes and throats. From the city’s skyline to its streets, everything appeared shrouded in a grey haze.

Hourly readings showed some improvement later in the day, with the AQI expected to fall below 200 by evening. However, for most of the morning, the air remained dangerously polluted.

Authorities have rolled out mobile anti-smog guns in several parts of Lahore as part of the government’s emergency measures. These truck-mounted cannons, each connected to a 16,000-litre water tanker, spray a fine mist into the air to trap dust and pollutants. The mist droplets attach to harmful particles and pull them to the ground, theoretically helping to clean the air.

Limited relief despite efforts

Officials from the Punjab Environment Protection Agency said 15 anti-smog units have been deployed so far in the first phase. But despite these efforts, the results have been far from encouraging. The smog remains stubborn, made worse by vehicular emissions, industrial smoke, and seasonal crop burning in surrounding regions.

With winter just around the corner, experts warn the situation could worsen unless stricter measures are enforced. For now, Lahore continues to hold an unwanted title once again: the world’s most polluted major city.