Air pollution has reached alarming levels across several cities in Pakistan, with Multan emerging as the most polluted city in the country after recording an air quality index (AQI) of 277, according to an air quality report cited by Dunya News on Monday.
Gujrat ranked second among Pakistani cities with an AQI of 275, followed by Faisalabad at 233, Gujranwala at 230, Bahawalpur at 227, Sialkot at 221 and Peshawar at 209, the report said.
The pollution has also placed Pakistani cities on the global list of the most polluted urban centres. Lahore ranked eighth among the world’s most polluted cities with an AQI of 191, while Karachi secured the ninth position with an AQI of 173.
The rising pollution levels have raised serious concerns over public health, particularly for children, elderly people and individuals suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, who are among the most vulnerable when air quality deteriorates.
Health experts have advised citizens to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, wear protective masks when going outside and limit strenuous physical activity in polluted environments to reduce exposure to hazardous air.
Authorities and citizens have been urged to take precautionary measures to protect public health as pollution levels remain high across several parts of the country.
Air quality in Punjab and other parts of Pakistan typically worsens during the winter months, when a combination of vehicle emissions, industrial activity, crop residue burning and still weather traps pollutants close to the ground and creates thick smog over cities.
The smog season regularly disrupts daily life in urban centres, affecting visibility on roads, closing schools at times and increasing hospital visits for breathing difficulties and eye irritation.
Officials have repeatedly appealed to the public to follow health guidance during periods of poor air quality, including keeping windows closed, avoiding morning walks on high-pollution days and seeking medical advice if breathing problems develop.
With Multan now topping the national pollution chart and Lahore and Karachi also featuring among the world’s most polluted cities, the latest readings underline the scale of the air quality challenge facing Pakistan’s urban population this winter.
