PESHAWAR: The air quality in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reached alarming levels on Monday morning.
According to a report by IQAir, which tracks real-time air quality data worldwide, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Peshawar hit 551 at 10:30am, making it the third most polluted city in Pakistan.
At the same time, the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses significant health risks—was recorded at 351 micrograms per cubic meter in Peshawar, which is over 70 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.
Air pollution levels in various areas of the city reached as high as 784. The AQI was recorded as 784 in Yousufabad, 667 in Hayatabad, and 509 in Dalazak. Similarly, the AQI at GT Road stood at 320, while the US Consulate in the city recorded 332.
Five air quality monitoring meters have been installed in Peshawar to monitor real-time air quality.
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Multan ranked as the most polluted city in the world, with an AQI of 949, while Lahore ranked second in Pakistan with an AQI of 527, according to the Swiss air quality monitor.
Delhi, India, which ranks second globally, recorded an AQI of 364.
