The Punjab Environmental Protection Department on Sunday issued a smog alert as the province faces increasing levels of pollution, with Lahore once again topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities as as colder temperatures set in.

The provincial capital’s average air quality index (AQI) dropped abnormally in 24 hours and was recorded at 700 this morning (Sunday), according to Swiss air quality technology company, IQAir.

According to IQAir’s air quality classification, the atmosphere becomes “hazardous” for health as soon as the AQI crosses the 300 mark.

An AQI of 0 to 5 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 is considered “moderate”, 101 to 150 is “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, 151 to 200 is simply “unhealthy”, 201 to 300 is “very unhealthy.” while over 301 degrees indicates “dangerous.”

Due to the alarming decline in Lahore’s AQI, the city continued to rank at the top of the world’s most polluted cities with dangerously low visibility, which also indicates the worsening smog conditions in the city.

As winter approaches, Lahore is particularly vulnerable to smog, exacerbated by winds carrying polluted air from neighboring regions, including Amritsar, New Delhi and Chandigarh, at speeds of 7 kilometers per hour.

Given the current situation, the authorities, through the alert, also urged residents to take precautions.

In the alert, authorities reminded residents to check the AQI before exercising or walking outdoors, use a mask before going to an open place, prevent children to play outside and avoid going to areas with heavy smog.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Traffic Police has warned citizens to be careful while riding motorcycles as visibility in the city is reduced to one kilometer.

Furthermore, environmentalists highlighted that Lahore’s air is “very dangerous” for citizens, calling for the enforcement of an environmental emergency in the city.

They said citizens should wear masks and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily. Additionally, medical experts have also warned residents against the spread of nose, eye and throat diseases due to dangerous air quality levels.

Smog is particularly severe in winter due to the presence of poor-quality fuel from factories and vehicles in the megacity of 14 million people, where denser cold air traps emissions at ground level.

Seasonal crop burning by farmers on the outskirts of the provincial capital is also a major factor.

Lahore and New Delhi are mostly the most polluted cities. Today, the latter retains its place as the second most polluted city on the scale, with an AQI of 270.

The third most polluted city in the world today is Cairo, the Egyptian capital, where the AQI was 159. Here, the air quality is “unhealthy” for citizens.

Megacity Karachi ranked fourth on the list this morning as its AQI reached 162.

Poor air quality poses a major health threat as citizens of polluted cities develop several medical problems, including respiratory ones.

Increasing air pollution can reduce life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, according to a report released last year that highlighted the growing health burden of hazardous air. one of the most polluted regions in the world.

Authorities in Punjab are racing to tackle the worsening smog crisis by taking all necessary measures to deal with dangerous levels of pollution.

The provincial ban on outdoor school activities in Lahore would end from Monday. A spokesperson for the Punjab School Education Department said the ban would last for three months until January 31.

School hours have also been changed to 8:45 a.m., from October 28 to January 31, 2025. School administrators have been instructed to organize indoor student assemblies.

Additionally, activities like fireworks have been banned until January 31, 2025.