Pollution levels exceed the national prescribed limit on all 27 days in Lahore and Peshawar
With India’s Covid-19 case count now over 7.4 million, there are growing fears that the deteriorating air quality will worsen the existing public health crisis. PHOTO: AA/FILE
LAHORE:
The metropolis continued to rank among the world’s most polluted cities, with IQAir recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 298.
New Delhi ranked second with an AQI of 255.
According to Punjab’s air quality monitoring data, Shahdara, Kahna Nau, Multan Road, Safari Park, GT Road, Gulberg III and Egerton Road recorded AQI levels of 500.
Dera Ghazi Khan, Kasur, Nankana Sahib and Rajanpur also reported readings of 500.
A report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) found that Lahore recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 94.1 micrograms per cubic metre from October 1 to 27. Peshawar recorded 90.1 micrograms per cubic metre, Islamabad 49.3 and Karachi 36.4. Pollution levels exceeded the national prescribed limit on all 27 days in Lahore and Peshawar.
Air quality is assessed by measuring pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), larger particles (PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.
