Overview
- Lahore ranked second globally for pollution, with an average AQI of 429 and hotspots like Ravi Road peaking at 1198.
- Gujranwala posted the highest AQI in Pakistan at 593, while Faisalabad reached 365, Multan 299, Peshawar 172, and Sialkot 462.
- New Delhi recorded an AQI of 702, underscoring the transboundary nature of the smog choking northern South Asia.
- Hospitals reported an uptick in breathing-related cases as health officials advised masks, limited outdoor exposure, and indoor air purifiers.
- Analysts cited crop burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial activity as key drivers, while Punjab Police reported fresh cases and PKR 915,000 in fines in an intensified anti-smog drive.