LAHORE: The Lahore air quality improved slightly on Friday, but its Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in the ‘hazardous’ category.
According to the Global website on pollution, Air Quality Index (IQAir), the AQI of Lahore was recorded at 682 at 9am slightly better than Thursday’s average AQI recorded at 784 at the same time.
On Wednesday, average AQI of Lahore was 1115.
Lahore, the home of more than 14 million people, is regularly ranked the most populated city of the world.
The Punjab government has implemented several measures as part of its pollution action plan, including a green lockdown, the closure of public and private schools until November 17, and a ban on heavy traffic entering the city. As a result of these measures, pollution levels have been declining over the past two days.
Despite these slight improvements, pollution levels in Lahore were 83 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended safe limit.
According to this year’s life quality index Institute report, compiled by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the people of Lahore have could their lives shortened by 7.5 years due to the poor air they breathe.
An AQI below 50 is considered good ‘moderate’ between ’51 and 100′, ‘unhealthy for sensitive group’ at ‘101 and 150’, ‘unhealthy’ at ‘151-200’, very unhealthy at 201-300, 301 and above is ‘hazardous’.
