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Lahore Chokes at AQI 780 — World’s Most Polluted CityPakistan
Lahore has been ranked the world’s most polluted city as its air quality index hit 780, with hospitals reporting a sharp surge in breathing and eye cases.
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Lahore is once again struggling to breathe. The city has been reported as the most polluted city in the world, with its overall air quality index reaching 780, a level far beyond what health experts consider safe. For residents, the numbers match what they can see and feel: a thick grey haze over the streets, a smell of smoke in the air, and eyes and throats irritated by every trip outside.
Some neighbourhoods recorded even worse readings. According to reports, Allama Iqbal Town recorded an index of 914, while several other areas, including Walton, Gulberg, Mughalpura, Ravi Road, Canal Road, DHA and Model Town, were reported at around 700 or higher. At such levels, the air is not merely unpleasant; it is classed as hazardous, and even healthy adults are advised to limit time outdoors.
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Hospitals feel the pressure
The health impact is already visible in the city’s hospitals. Reports say Mayo Hospital alone received more than 11,000 patients with breathing and eye problems within 24 hours, while Services Hospital also reported a large number of similar cases. Doctors commonly see a rise in asthma attacks, chest infections, sore eyes and skin irritation during severe smog episodes, with children, older people and those with existing lung conditions most at risk.
For many families, the smog season has become a yearly ordeal. Parents worry about sending children to school in the morning haze, outdoor workers spend long hours in polluted air, and people with asthma keep inhalers close at hand. The poorest residents, who cannot afford air purifiers or masks of good quality, often bear the heaviest burden.
What officials are doing
According to coverage of the official response, anti-smog squads have inspected locations across the city and taken action against vehicles and industrial units found to be breaking rules. Restrictions on outdoor activity for children and older people have also been mentioned, as authorities try to reduce exposure during the worst hours.
Smog in Lahore is driven by a mix of factors that build up in the cooler months. Vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, dust from construction, crop residue burning in surrounding areas and calm winter air that traps pollutants close to the ground all contribute. When winds are weak, the pollution has nowhere to go, and readings climb day after day.
Experts have long argued that short-term steps, such as closing schools on the worst days or fining polluters, can only do so much. Longer-term solutions would need cleaner transport, stricter control of industrial emissions, better waste management and regional cooperation, since much of the smoke drifts across district and provincial boundaries.
Until the air clears, health advice remains simple but important: stay indoors when readings are at their worst, wear a proper mask if going outside is unavoidable, keep windows closed during peak haze, and seek medical help early if breathing becomes difficult. For a city of millions, the hope is that this season’s alarming readings will push faster action, so that residents do not face the same choking air year after year.
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