Choking on Success

On September 8, 2026, Lahore’s Air Quality Index rose above 150, placing the city among the five most polluted major cities in the world. This is hardly a new problem. IQAir’s 2025 report described Pakistan as the world’s most polluted country, while Lahore ranked eighth globally, with PM2.5 levels 17.8 times higher than those recommended by the WHO.

The causes are well understood: emissions from a rapidly growing number of vehicles, brick kilns, construction dust and industrial activity. Conditions are expected to worsen from October to February as the monsoon season ends.

What is particularly alarming is that unhealthy air is already being recorded in September. If pollution has reached such high levels, why wait until winter smog becomes severe before taking decisive action?

The human cost is measurable. These figures represent families visiting emergency rooms, children missing school and older people unable to leave their homes.

The Punjab government has instructed that anti-smog measures be strengthened, including stricter inspections of vehicle smoke emissions and increased monitoring of motorcycles. Yet these remain temporary responses to a persistent problem. Lahore has seen the same cycle before: smog, blame and temporary action.

The city cannot rely on short-term measures alone. Pakistan needs a long-term air quality strategy that addresses the fundamental causes of pollution and protects public health throughout the year, not just during smog season.

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