LAHORE: India’s national capital Delhi overtook Lahore on Saturday to become the world’s most polluted city in Swiss group IQAir’s live rankings.
The IQAir, real-time data shows that Delhi air quality index (AQI) score had touched 812 considered extreme ‘hazardous.’
According to a report by IQAir, the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore reached 766 at 8:30am, losing its top ranking of the world most polluted city.
Earlier, Lahore, home to more than 14 million people, was constantly ranked as the world most populated city.
At the same time, the Lahore air pollution levels the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses significant health risks—were recorded at 459 micrograms per cubic meter in Lahore, which is over 91 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.
Karachi, with an AQI of 176, was recorded as the country’s second-most polluted city for the first time this year.
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’.
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.
To control the smog crisis, the Punjab government also has closed schools and closed public places including parks, zoos, playgrounds, joy/play lands, historical places, monuments, and museums in smog-hit districts including Lahore.
Yesterday, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has described smog as a serious threat and said that it is likely to cause 250,000 premature deaths.
It should be noted that the situation of smog in the capitals of Punjab, Lahore, and Multan, is particularly disturbing. The provincial capital has been the most polluted city in the world for many days.
