Pakistan’s Punjab province, particularly Lahore, experienced sharply declining air quality following Diwali weekend, with officials attributing the deterioration partly to pollutants drifting from India combined with local emissions and low wind speeds.
Cross-Border Pollution Claims
According to the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD), winds carrying pollutants from New Delhi and northern Indian cities contributed significantly to worsening air conditions in Pakistan’s Punjab, Karachi-based Dawn reported.
By Tuesday morning, Lahore’s Air Quality Index reached 266, making it the world’s second most polluted city after New Delhi, where AQI exceeded 300 at most monitoring stations.
Emergency Response Measures
The Maryam Nawaz-led provincial government activated emergency protocols, deploying anti-smog guns and water sprinkling operations on Lahore’s key roads. Nine departments have been mobilized, with smog response squads raiding establishments allegedly polluting the air.
Lahore police arrested 83 individuals in anti-smog crackdowns targeting factory emissions and tire and waste burning.
Regional Impact
With wind speeds between 4 and 7 km/h, airborne particulates affected Pakistani cities including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, and Multan. IQAir, the Swiss air quality monitoring group, reported PM2.5 concentrations in Lahore at 187 µg/m³—approximately 37 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit.
Official Statements
Marriyum Aurangzeb, a minister in Nawaz’s cabinet, described the situation as a cross-border environmental challenge. “Winds coming from Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Haryana will bring pollution into the air. Lahore’s AQI is expected to remain between 210 and 230,” she posted on X.
She announced construction materials in open areas would be covered, traffic restricted on key routes, and smoke-emitting vehicles fined or seized.
India’s Pollution Crisis
Delhi’s air pollution levels hit hazardous highs, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 248 µg/m³ in most areas. Despite court mandates limiting fireworks to “green crackers,” compliance was low, with widespread conventional firework use during Diwali celebrations.
On Monday evening, Lahore ranked third globally with AQI of 182, behind Kolkata (203) and New Delhi (213), both experiencing Diwali-induced pollution surges.
Bilateral Environmental Challenge
The post-Diwali haze has become an unwanted afterglow visible on both sides of the border, highlighting shared air quality challenges requiring regional coordination beyond political tensions.
