Islamabad, November 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Lahore has been ranked the world’s most polluted city, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 530, while its fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration rose to 343 micrograms per cubic metre, according to local media reports.
According to IQAir’s global ranking for the period between 9 am and 10 am on Monday, Lahore topped the list, followed by Cairo with an AQI of 226. Several other cities in Pakistan’s Punjab province also figured among the country’s most polluted urban centres, Dawn reported.
Within Pakistan, Gujranwala recorded an AQI of 475, followed by Faisalabad at 435, Multan at 280 and Sialkot at 241. Bahawalpur ranked seventh nationally, with an AQI of 180.
Punjab has been experiencing worsening air quality amid a sharp increase in agricultural fire detections across the province.
According to a report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI), air pollution reduces life expectancy in Pakistan by an estimated 3.9 years and contributes to around 128,000 premature deaths annually. The report estimates that pollution imposes an economic burden equivalent to 6.5 per cent of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It further warns that prolonged exposure to polluted air could reduce life expectancy in Lahore by up to seven years.
Titled ‘Unveiling Pakistan’s Air Pollution: A National Landscape Report on Health Risks, Sources, and Solutions’, the assessment presents Pakistan’s first harmonised, multi-sector emissions inventory, along with a multi-city analysis of air quality.
The report examines pollution patterns in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Peshawar, identifies the major emission sources in these cities and outlines measures that could reduce emissions by up to 50 per cent, The Express Tribune reported.
The assessment covers carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), providing a sector-wise analysis of emissions across four urban airsheds.
The report found that Lahore’s annual average PM2.5 concentration exceeds 110 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 22 times the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline of five micrograms per cubic metre.
Transport was identified as the largest source of primary PM2.5 emissions in Lahore, followed by industry, accounting for 28 per cent, and brick kilns at 17 per cent. These sources contribute significantly to particulate pollution, while winter weather conditions further aggravate the situation, the report said.
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