From Dawn · Imran Gabol · · 3m
Lahore Ranks World's Most Polluted Major City
Lahore tops global air pollution rankings with AQI 419 as Punjab intensifies smog crackdown.
In brief
Lahore tops global air pollution rankings with AQI 419 as Punjab intensifies smog crackdown. Lahore ranked world's most polluted major city with AQI 419 on Oct 29, 2026, as Punjab government launched air quality enforcement operations targeting pollution sources. Originally reported by Dawn.
Lahore ranks world's most polluted major city
Lahore was ranked the world's most polluted major city on Thursday with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 419 as air pollution levels remained high across Punjab ahead of the peak smog season.
Global pollution rankings
According to IQAir's live global ranking for 10am to 11am on Oct 29, Lahore topped the list, followed by Cairo with an AQI of 274 and Delhi with 220.
Punjab's pollution levels
The Punjab government's air quality monitoring dashboard showed hazardous pollution levels in several cities, with Kasur topping the provincial list at an AQI of 348, followed by Lahore at 324, Faisalabad at 290, Kot Addu…
Punjab pollution rankings
Nankana Sahib recorded an AQI of 261, Hafizabad 250, Sahiwal 210, Sheikhupura 205, Jhang 203 and Rajanpur 201. Multan and Gujranwala both recorded an AQI of 194, while Bhakkar registered 186 and Vehari 181.
Pollution levels shift
As of 1:00pm, Lahore ranked at number 5 on IQAir's live global ranking with an AQI of 183.
Punjab government action
The Punjab government intensified enforcement against sources of emissions, including smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns, industrial units, plastic burning and construction dust.
AI-powered monitoring
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) said it was using artificial intelligence-powered cameras to identify smog-related violations across the province.
Public appeals
The authority urged motorists to avoid using vehicles that emit excessive smoke and called on the public to refrain from burning waste. Residents can report violations by calling police emergency number 15.
EPA enforcement
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) intensified its pre-smog enforcement campaign, demolishing 197 non-compliant brick kilns, sealing 163 units and registering 162 first information reports (FIRs) during the month-long operation from Sept 28 to Oct 27.
EPA data-driven strategy
Director General EPA Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh said the department was following a data-driven, zero-tolerance strategy to protect public health.
Brick kiln inspections
According to official figures, EPA teams conducted 11,580 inspections of brick kilns, issued 314 smog notices and imposed fines totalling Rs40.7 million.
Industrial site inspections
The agency also inspected 6,650 industrial sites, demolished 22 non-compliant units, issued 333 notices, sealed 191 premises and registered 15 FIRs, collecting Rs28 million in fines.
Plastic burning crackdown
Action against plastic burning included 6,064 inspections, 678 notices, the sealing of 152 premises and the confiscation of 45,100 kilogrammes of plastic. Fines of around Rs2 million were imposed.
Industrial suction hoods
In a separate exercise to enforce the installation of suction hoods at industrial facilities, officials inspected 4,204 sites.
Construction dust control
The department collected Rs2.0045 million in penalties. The crackdown also targeted construction dust. EPA officers visited 397 union councils, issued 181 notices, sealed 20 locations and imposed Rs25,000 in fines.
The takeaway
Lahore ranked world's most polluted major city with AQI 419 on Oct 29, 2026, as Punjab government launched air quality enforcement operations targeting pollution sources.
