Lahore Becomes World’s Most Polluted City with AQI of 419; Air Pollution May Cut Life Expectancy in Pakistan

Lahore was ranked the world’s most polluted city on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 419. According to reports, air pollution in Pakistan is reducing average life expectancy by around 3.9 years and contributing to approximately 128,000 premature deaths every year.

According to IQAir’s global ranking, Lahore topped the list between 10 am and 11 am on October 29. Cairo, Egypt, ranked second with an AQI of 274, while Karachi stood eighth with an AQI of 165, according to a report by the Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

Several Cities in Pakistan Record Dangerous Pollution Levels

The Punjab government’s air quality monitoring dashboard has reported dangerous levels of pollution in several cities across the province, with Kasur topping the provincial list.

Nankana Sahib recorded an AQI of 261, followed by Hafizabad at 250, Sahiwal at 210, Sheikhupura at 205, Jhang at 203 and Rajanpur at 201. Multan and Gujranwala recorded an AQI of 194 each, while Bhakkar stood at 186 and Vehari at 181.

Air Pollution Linked to 128,000 Premature Deaths Annually

According to a report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI), air pollution reduces average life expectancy in Pakistan by around 3.9 years and contributes to approximately 128,000 premature deaths annually. The report also states that pollution imposes an economic burden equivalent to 6.5% of Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Prolonged exposure to polluted air could reduce life expectancy in Lahore by up to seven years, the report says.

Titled “Unveiling Pakistan’s Air Pollution: A National Landscape Report on Health Risks, Sources, and Solutions,” the report presents Pakistan’s first integrated, multi-sector emissions inventory and an analysis of air quality across several cities.

The report examines pollution patterns in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Peshawar. According to The Express Tribune, it identifies the major emission sources in each city and outlines measures that could reduce emissions by up to 50%.

Lahore’s PM2.5 Levels More Than 22 Times the WHO Guideline

The assessment covers carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). It also provides a sector-wise analysis of emissions across four urban airsheds.

According to the report, Lahore’s annual average PM2.5 concentration exceeds 110 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 22 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual guideline of five micrograms per cubic metre.

The report warns that prolonged exposure to these pollution levels could reduce the city’s life expectancy by up to seven years.