Pakistan Blames India As Lahore Remains World’s Most Polluted City With AQI At 1900

Pakistan’s second-largest city, Lahore, recorded an unprecedented Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1900 on Saturday, prompting urgent action from authorities. With air quality reaching hazardous levels, the city's struggle against pollution has become a critical concern for both public health and environmental sustainability.

According to recent data from the provincial government and Swiss group IQAir, Lahore ranked as the world's most polluted city on Sunday, following its highest recorded pollution level near the Pakistan-India border on Saturday. 

In response to alarming air quality levels, the Punjab government in Pakistan has announced the closure of primary schools in Lahore for one week. Schools will remain closed from November 4 to November 9, according to a notification from the Punjab Environment Department. The Lahore administration has also mandated work-from-home for employees.

Amid rising pollution levels, the Punjab government has temporarily closed primary schools for a week, urging parents to equip their children with masks to combat air pollution. 

Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced these measures during a press conference, highlighting the need for public safety as the city grapples with hazardous air quality. The government will implement a policy requiring 50% of office employees to work from home.

Pakistan Blames India For Poor Air Quality

A senior minister in Pakistan’s Punjab government has attributed the deteriorating air quality in Lahore to polluted winds originating from Amritsar and Chandigarh. During a televised press conference on Sunday, Marriyum Aurangzeb proposed initiating a dialogue with India to address measures for improving the Air Quality Index (AQI). This statement follows the alarming AQI level recorded in Lahore, which reached 1,067 on Saturday.

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“This cannot be solved without talks with India," Aurangzeb said, adding the provincial government would initiate talks with its bigger neighbour through Pakistan's foreign ministry.

Aurangzeb cited scientific data indicating that the winds had originated from Indian cities such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bathinda, Sri Ganganagar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar, which subsequently engulfed large areas of Lahore, causing the air quality index (AQI) to reach alarming levels.