Punjab smog blanketed several parts of the province on Saturday, with the Wagha Border monitoring station in Lahore recording an air quality index (AQI) of 500, the highest reading on the scale and classified as hazardous.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported unhealthy air at monitoring stations across the provincial capital, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast dry weather, leaving little hope of quick relief.
The EPA’s latest data, updated at 6pm on Saturday, showed wide variation across Lahore. Barki Road recorded an unhealthy 288, while Egerton Road registered 175, Shahdara 173, Multan Road 167, Kahna Nau 165, Safari Park 160 and DHA Phase 6 159. Those readings fall in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” band. Punjab University and GT Road recorded lower scores of 149 and 148, classified as moderate.
Punjab smog: Wagha Border records the worst reading
PM2.5 levels reached 108.3 microgrammes per cubic metre at Shahdara, 105.5 at Egerton Road, 99.9 at Multan Road and 97 at Kahna Nau. At Wagha Border, the PM10 concentration hit 683.5 microgrammes per cubic metre. The Express Tribune reported the EPA data on Saturday evening.
Today’s reading is far worse than the last bad spell. When smog returned to Lahore in late October, the city’s AQI ranged between 229 and 290 from October 17 to 21. A reading of 500 shows how sharply conditions have worsened in a fortnight.
Vehari tops the provincial list
Outside Lahore, the air was worse still. The EPA’s provincial ranking put Vehari first with 369, followed by Multan at 354 and Sahiwal at 329. Gujranwala recorded 323, Sheikhupura 284, Kot Addu 271, Dera Ghazi Khan 270, Pakpattan 247, Nankana Sahib 238 and Wazirabad 233. Lahore missed the top 10, but several parts of the capital still had unhealthy air.
On IQAir’s live platform, Lahore’s US AQI stood at 275 on Saturday morning, improving to 172 by the evening, although air quality remained unhealthy. Station readings reached 322 in Allama Iqbal Town and 312 in Cantonment. By 10pm, Lahore ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted major cities at a US AQI of 204. Kuwait City topped the list at 287, followed by Kolkata at 264, Delhi at 219 and Kabul at 213. Delhi was the world’s most polluted city on Diwali eve.
Dry weather offers no relief
The PMD forecast dry weather in most Punjab districts, with smog likely at isolated places in Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Kot Addu, Multan and Bahawalpur. Lahore’s maximum temperature was forecast at 31 degrees Celsius. Similar dry weather was forecast for Sunday, with fog or smog likely in the morning at isolated places.
Rain and thunderstorms were forecast from Saturday in the Potohar region, Murree and Galiyat, but not widespread rainfall over Punjab that could bring immediate relief. Punjab’s air pollution had already reached alarming levels a day earlier, and 593 stubble-burning hotspots were found across eight districts, adding smoke to the mix.
Why the EPA and IQAir figures differ
Readers may notice that the EPA and IQAir figures for Lahore do not match. The difference comes down to the monitoring networks, station locations, AQI calculation methods and reporting periods each side uses. The EPA reports readings from its own network, while IQAir blends its own sensors with other sources. The numbers can therefore differ for the same city on the same day, but the overall picture stays the same: Punjab’s air is largely poor.
Punjab has begun using new tools against the smog, launching Pakistan’s first electric sweeper truck in Lahore this week. But equipment alone cannot clear the air while dry weather and smoke from burning continue.
What residents should do
The Punjab AQI dashboard advises residents to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity when pollution is high. Vulnerable groups should check air quality before going out, wear masks, keep children indoors and avoid areas with elevated pollution. Older people and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions should take particular care, and people with chronic lung or heart disease should ask their doctors about mask use.
Frequently asked questions
What was the worst AQI reading in Lahore on Saturday?
Wagha Border recorded an AQI of 500, classified as hazardous — the highest EPA reading in the city.
Which Punjab city had the worst air quality?
Vehari topped the EPA’s provincial ranking with 369, followed by Multan at 354 and Sahiwal at 329.
Will it rain in Punjab this weekend?
No widespread rain is expected over Punjab, only dry weather with smog at isolated places. Rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Potohar region, Murree and Galiyat.
Why do EPA and IQAir readings differ?
They use different monitoring networks, station locations, AQI calculation methods and reporting periods, so the numbers can differ while the overall picture stays the same.
