Lahore In Top 5 Global Air Pollution Rankings; Punjab Intensifies Anti-Smog Crackdown

• Azka Ali


• 10 Nov 2025

Lahore has once again emerged as one of the world’s most polluted cities, ranking 4th, with dense smog prompting Punjab authorities to ramp up enforcement against the primary sources of pollution through an anti-smog crackdown.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) monitored by global trackers, Lahore’s air quality remained in the “hazardous” category for much of the day, recording levels well above 400 µg/m³ of PM2.5 in several areas. 

Health Risks Rise as AQI Levels Turn Hazardous in Punjab

Thick smog reduced visibility to a few hundred metres in parts of the city, forcing residents to stay indoors and wear masks outdoors. Health officials report a surge in respiratory and eye infections as residents struggle to cope with dangerously poor air quality.

Meteorologists attributed the worsening conditions to stagnant weather patterns and temperature inversion that trap pollutants close to the ground. Environmental experts said the city’s recurring smog crisis reflects a lack of preventive planning and poor regulation of emissions from vehicles, industries, brick kilns, and crop-residue burning.

Punjab’s Smog Crackdown by the Numbers

In response to the growing public health emergency, the Punjab Police intensified a province-wide crackdown on pollution sources. In the past 24 hours:

• 51 FIRs registered
• Rs 1.067 million in fines imposed
• 38 warnings issued
• 491 vehicles, kilns, or violators penalized

The operation targeted smoke-emitting vehicles, brick kilns, and incidents of crop burning.

Since January 2025, the Punjab Police has:

• 2,275 FIRs lodged under anti-smog laws
• 2,027 arrests made
• Rs 227 million+ in fines collected
• 87,780 individuals penalized—most linked to:
  • Vehicle emissions
  • Illegal crop burning
  • Brick kiln pollution

Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar has directed district officers to maintain a “zero-tolerance” approach toward polluters and ensure sustained monitoring in affected areas.

Experts Call for Long-Term Smog Solutions

Environmentalists welcomed the enforcement drive but stressed that punitive measures alone cannot resolve Lahore’s deepening air-quality crisis. They urged authorities to invest in cleaner fuels, promote public transport, and provide alternatives to crop burning to achieve lasting improvements.

As winter sets in, citizens are bracing for more smog episodes, while officials insist the ongoing crackdown will continue until air quality shows a measurable improvement.