South Asia Faces Escalating Air Pollution Crisis with Record Smog Levels

India and Pakistan grapple with severe health and environmental impacts as toxic air pollution reaches unprecedented levels, highlighting governance challenges and urgent need for action.

Delhi, India, and Lahore, Pakistan, recorded hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels this month, with Delhi reaching 1,185 and Lahore hitting 1,900 — far exceeding the World Health Organization's safe limit of 50.
The smog crisis has led to school closures, halted construction, and restricted outdoor activities in affected cities, with health systems under strain due to pollution-related illnesses.
Air pollution in South Asia is driven by crop residue burning, vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and thermal inversions that trap pollutants close to the ground during winter months.
Exposure to toxic particles like PM2.5 and PM10 is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reduced life expectancy, and developmental issues in children, with India losing an average of 5.3 years of life expectancy due to pollution.
Experts emphasize the need for coordinated governance, stricter enforcement of clean air policies, and investment in renewable energy to address the crisis and mitigate its long-term health and economic impacts.