LAHORE: Pakistan’s two major cities- Lahore and Karachi- are ranking among the world’s three most polluted cities in Swiss group IQAir’s live rankings.

According to a report by IQAir, which tracks real-time data on air quality worldwide, Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) peaked at 206 in the very unhealthy category at 8:20am, ranking the second most polluted city in the world.

Last month, the city, home of more than 14 million people, has mostly remained in the hazardous category —considered extremely harmful and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

Similarly, Karachi ranked third on the global pollution chart with an AQI soaring to 196.

Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, is ranked as the world’s most polluted city. The air quality index (AQI) in Dhaka peaked at 247.

Indian city Delhi ranked fourth with an AQI of 183.

Lahore, ranked second most polluted city, the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses significant health risks—were recorded at 130.2 micrograms per cubic meter in Lahore, which is over 26 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.

Last year, Lahore was the second most polluted city in the world

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 could have had their lives shortened by 7.5 years due to the poor air they breathe.

To control the smog crisis, the Punjab government has this month closed public places including parks, zoos, playgrounds, joy/play lands, historical places, monuments, and museums in smog-hit districts including Lahore.

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has described smog as a serious threat and said that it is likely to cause 250,000 premature deaths.

The provincial capital has been the most polluted city in the world for many days.

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