# Delhi overtakes Lahore as world's most polluted city

> Delhi becomes world's most polluted major city as air quality hits hazardous levels.
- Title: Delhi overtakes Lahore as world's most polluted city · Dawn
- Summary: Delhi becomes world's most polluted major city as air quality hits hazardous levels.
- Keywords: delhi, lahore, air quality, aqi, pollution, pakistan, india, pm2.5, crop residue burning, punjab, Dawn
- Source: Dawn — https://dawn.com/news/2044265/delhi-overtakes-lahore-as-worlds-most-polluted-major-city-as-air-quality-deteriorates
- Author: Imran Gabol | Reuters
- Published: 2026-11-13T07:26:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: delhi, lahore, air quality, aqi, pollution, pakistan, india, pm2.5, crop residue burning, punjab, news, politics
## Delhi overtakes Lahore
Delhi became the world's most polluted major city on Friday with air quality index reaching 334, classified as hazardous by IQAir.

> Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 334, categorised as "hazardous"
## Air quality index levels
IQAir recorded Delhi’s AQI at 334, while India’s Central Pollution Control Board recorded it at 403, classified as severe.

> India’s official Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a higher AQI of 403 in Delhi
## Delhi pollution levels
Delhi’s AQI dropped to 208 by 11am PKT, with Lahore ranked seventh among the world’s most polluted cities at 155.

> According to IQAir’s hourly readings, Delhi’s AQI had dropped to 208 by 11am PKT
## Smog conditions
Dense smog obscured street lights in Delhi, with vehicles emerging from the haze on city roads.

> Vehicles drive past mist spraying system installed in between roads to control air pollution in New Delhi
## Seasonal pollution
Pollution levels are seasonal in northern India and Pakistan due to cold, heavy air trapping emissions and agricultural burning.

> Pollution is a seasonal problem in many parts of northern Pakistan and India
## Lahore pollution levels
Lahore’s average PM2.5 concentration was 126 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding national standards on 40 days.

> Lahore’s average PM2.5 concentration stood at 126 micrograms per cubic metre
## Crop residue burning
Satellite instruments detected 18,825 fires across Punjab, 89 percent of which were likely crop-residue burning.

> Satellite instruments detected 18,825 fires across Punjab, Pakistan
## Pollution trends
Lahore’s pollution levels were 11 percent lower than the corresponding period in 2025, but still exceeded national standards.

> The average was 11pc lower than in the corresponding period in 2025
## Health risks
Lahore’s average PM2.5 concentration was eight times the World Health Organisation’s guideline value.

> Earlier this week, Lahore’s average PM2.5 concentration was eight times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guideline value
## Weather conditions
Stagnant weather conditions and reduced atmospheric dispersion contributed to pollution accumulation in Punjab.

> the association did not establish the precise contribution of crop-residue burning to urban pollution
## Air quality impact
Delhi’s air quality reached hazardous levels with visibility dropping as smog blanketed the city of 20 million people.

> India’s capital, Delhi, overtook Lahore to become the world’s most polluted city on Friday, with air quality reaching hazardous levels and visibility dropping as smog blanketed the city of 20 million people
## Key takeaway

Delhi overtook Lahore to become the world's most polluted major city with air quality index reaching 334, classified as hazardous by IQAir.