The Punjab Environment Protection Department on Sunday issued a smog alert as the province grapples with rising pollution levels, with Lahore again topping the list of the world’s most polluted cities as cooler temperatures settle in.

The provincial capital’s average air quality index (AQI) fell 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” to health after the AQI exceeds 300.

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

As a result of the alarming drop in Lahore’s IQA, the city continued to rank among the most polluted cities in the world with dangerously low visibility, which also indicates worsening smog conditions in the city.

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

In light of the current situation, the authorities, through the alert, also urged the residents to take precautionary measures.

In the alert, authorities reminded residents to check their IQA before exercising or walking outdoors, use a mask before going outdoors, prevent children from playing outdoors and to avoid traveling in areas with intense smog.

Meanwhile, traffic police in Lahore have warned citizens to be careful while driving motorcycles as visibility in the city has reduced to one kilometer.

In addition, environmentalists pointed out that Lahore’s air is “very dangerous” for citizens, calling for an environmental emergency in the city.

They said citizens should wear masks and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily. In addition, medical experts have warned residents of the spread of nose, eye and throat diseases as a result of dangerous levels of air quality.

The smog is particularly bad in winter, a result of low-quality fuel from factories and vehicles in the low-lying megacity of 14 million, 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 contributing factor.

Lahore and New Delhi are by far the most polluted cities. Today, the latter has retained its position as the second most polluted city on the scale, with an AQI of 270.

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

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

Poor air quality is a major health threat as citizens of polluted cities develop more medical problems, especially respiratory problems.

According to a report published last year which highlighted the growing burden of hazardous air on health, increasing air pollution can reduce life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world’s most polluted regions.

Authorities in Punjab are rushing to tackle the worsening smog crisis, with all arrangements in place to deal with dangerous levels of pollution.

The province has banned outdoor school activities in Lahore which will end from Monday. A spokesman for the Punjab School Education Department said the ban would last for three months till January 31.

The school timings were also changed to 8:45 a.m. effective from October 28 to January 31, 2025. School administrations were directed to hold student assemblies indoors.

Furthermore, activities such as fireworks have been banned until January 31, 2025.