ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — Similar to many other South Asian nations, Pakistan is grappling with a concerning surge in pollution indicators, with the country experiencing some of the world’s poorest air quality standards.
According to IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality technology company, Pakistan maintained its position as the second-worst country for air quality in 2023, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³). PM2.5 refers to lung-damaging airborne particles and should ideally not exceed 5μg/m³, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report highlighted that Islamabad saw its PM2.5 levels soar to unprecedented highs, reaching 42.4μg/m³, the highest recorded in the city’s seven-year history. Lahore, previously labeled as the world’s most polluted city in March 2023, also witnessed a significant rise in its PM2.5 levels, surpassing 99.5µg/m³. In November of the same year, the city’s monthly average PM2.5 level peaked at 251µg/m³, prompting courts to direct the government to declare a “smog emergency” in the provincial capital.
The report noted that every city in Pakistan included in the 2023 analysis recorded concentrations exceeding 30µg/m³, which is six times higher than the WHO’s recommended annual PM2.5 guideline.
Aside from Lahore, several other urban centers, including Faisalabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi, reported significantly elevated PM2.5 levels compared to WHO guidelines. The report attributed various factors to such hazardous air quality levels, including crop burning, deforestation, industrial and vehicle emissions, and smoke from brick kilns.
In response to the alarming situation, the government implemented lockdown measures in multiple cities across Punjab due to thick smog engulfing several districts. Additionally, in December 2023, Lahore witnessed the country’s inaugural artificial rain, with planes equipped with cloud-seeding equipment flying over ten areas in the city to combat the perilous air quality levels.
Pakistan’s average PM2.5 levels were surpassed only by Bangladesh, with 79.9μg/m³. India ranked third with PM2.5 levels of 54.4μg/m³.
