Punjab Blames Diwali Fireworks for Lahore Toxic Air
Lahore toxic air stayed at the top of a global pollution ranking on Tuesday, and the Punjab government blamed firecrackers set off in India during Diwali for the smoke drifting across the border.
Lahore ranked as the most polluted major city in the world for a second straight day, according to Swiss group IQAir. The city recorded an air quality index of 263, a level classed as very unhealthy. Its concentration of PM2.5, the fine particles that can reach deep into the lungs, stood at 37.2 times the World Health Organisation annual guideline.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the pollutants had been carried into the region by light winds and air drifting from Delhi in the days after Diwali. She added that the air was expected to clear gradually from early afternoon as weather conditions improved and the wind changed direction.
Lahore toxic air and the Diwali fireworks link
Diwali fell on Sunday, and firecrackers lit across northern India left a thick haze over the region. Delhi ranked as the second most polluted major city on Tuesday, with an air quality index of 188. Indian government data showed that firecrackers caused nearly 55 per cent of the PM2.5 in the Indian capital a day earlier.
Vehicle exhaust, construction dust and smoke from burning crop waste also add to winter pollution on both sides of the border, so a single festival cannot explain the full picture.
A separate report published on Tuesday put Lahore’s PM2.5 level at eight times the World Health Organisation guideline. The two readings use different measures, but both point to air far above safe limits.
Lahore topped the world pollution ranking on Monday evening as well, when its index reached 196 against 185 in New Delhi and 180 in Kolkata. The city has seen far worse readings this season, with its air quality index crossing 600 on one day as smog closed in.
A familiar blame game across the border
This is not the first time Lahore’s smog has set off a cross-border argument. Pakistan blamed its toxic air in 2024 on crop waste burning in Indian Punjab. Officials from India’s weather department replied at the time that the wind direction meant air was flowing from Pakistan into India, not the other way round.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has blamed crop waste burning in Indian Punjab for Delhi’s poor air this month. Local media reported a sevenfold rise in farm fires in the state on Sunday, when Diwali was celebrated.
The dispute shows how hard it is to pin winter smog on one source. Smoke moves with the wind, and both sides burn crop waste, run old vehicles and build through the winter.
What the numbers mean for people in Lahore
An index of 263 sits well inside the very unhealthy band. At that level, the air can harm healthy people as well as those with heart or lung disease. Doctors advise people to stay indoors where possible, wear a mask outside and avoid outdoor exercise until the air clears.
Farmers in Sindh have taken a different route on climate harm, suing German firms over flood losses in a case that tests who pays for pollution. Punjab has also moved to widen worker protection this year, with a new labour code covering gig workers. Reuters reported the Punjab government’s statement on Tuesday.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lahore’s air so bad today?
Lahore recorded an air quality index of 263 on Tuesday, the worst among major world cities. The Punjab government blamed smoke from Diwali firecrackers in India, carried across the border by light winds.
What is PM2.5 and why does it matter?
PM2.5 refers to fine airborne particles small enough to reach deep into the lungs. Lahore’s PM2.5 level stood at 37.2 times the World Health Organisation annual guideline on Tuesday.
How bad is an AQI of 263?
An index of 263 falls in the very unhealthy band. It can harm healthy people as well as those with heart or lung disease, so doctors advise staying indoors and wearing a mask outside.
Did Delhi face the same problem?
Yes. Delhi ranked as the second most polluted major city on Tuesday, with an index of 188. Indian government data showed firecrackers caused nearly 55 per cent of the capital’s PM2.5 a day earlier.
When will Lahore’s air improve?
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said pollution should ease gradually from early afternoon as weather conditions improve and winds shift direction.
