Lahore's air pollution falls sharply, ranks 15th in global index
The minister said smog control measures and continued action against local pollution sources had helped bring the improvement.
Lahore's air pollution fell sharply on Friday, with the Air Quality Index recorded at 115 and the city moving to 15th place in a global ranking, Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said.
She said favorable wind speed and direction, along with control over local pollution, had been key reasons for the better reading.
Aurangzeb said the improvement could not be attributed to seasonal weather alone, pointing to an anti-smog system set up under the chief minister's leadership on a permanent, scientific basis.
She said there was no coordinated system to control the sources of pollution in 2024, and that preventing pollution, continuous monitoring and strict action are now the government's priority.
Aurangzeb said the improvement would not have been possible without controlling industrial units, brick kilns, vehicles and waste smoke.
She said lasting improvement is not possible without effective control over local pollution, even when weather conditions are favorable.
Aurangzeb added that continuous action against local sources of pollution had also played an important role in the improvement.
Lahore regularly appears among the most polluted cities in the world during the winter smog season, when cold air can trap emissions close to the ground.
An index reading of 115 falls in the range the US Environmental Protection Agency classes as unhealthy for sensitive groups, meaning air quality is improved but not yet considered good.
