Lahore once again world's most polluted city, AQI 347 recorded

India's capital New Delhi at second place with 243 AQI in IQAir global ranking

Lahore once again topped list of world's most polluted cities, where on Friday at 7 am Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded 347 according to Punjab Air Quality Index, rate of air pollution in different areas of city reached extremely high AQI 500.

According to IQAir data, Lahore remained at first place in global list on Friday morning with 288 AQI, Punjab Air Quality Index recorded Lahore's AQI 347 at 7 am while on Thursday at same time Lahore's AQI was 305, thus on Friday Punjab Air Quality Index reading increased by 42 points, difference in readings on different platforms may be due to monitoring stations and timing of data updates.

In IQAir's global ranking, India's capital New Delhi remained second with 243 AQI, Senegal's city Dakar third with 194 and Indian city Kolkata fourth with 178 AQI.

According to Punjab Air Quality Index, Lahore remained most polluted city of province, Nankana Sahib remained second with 345 AQI, Kasur third with 292, Sheikhupura fourth with 278 and Wazirabad fifth with 275 AQI.

Rate of air pollution in different areas of Lahore was also recorded dangerously high, AQI reached 500 in Shahdara, Kahna Nau and Multan Road, 394 in Gulberg Three, 379 in DHA Phase 6 and 316 AQI was recorded in Punjab University area.

According to officials, air pollution has increased in other cities of Punjab including Lahore due to easterly winds, air quality has been affected due to polluted air entering Punjab from across border through these winds.

Under supervision of Director General Environment Abdullah Nayar Sheikh, operation of anti-smog guns has been continuing in Lahore and machinery is being deployed in various areas on basis of air pollution monitoring readings, action is taken on priority basis at places with higher pollution.

Member Operations and Focal Person Environment Department Sajid Bashir said that deployment of anti-smog guns is not limited to one area but is done according to monitoring readings, especially machinery is operated at places where level of suspended particles including PM10 is high so that dust present on roads and surroundings can be suppressed and its spread can be reduced.

According to Environment Department, on Friday October 23 anti-smog guns were operated at numerous places including Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Bekheywal, Muslim Town, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Gulberg, STEDX Complex, Doctors Hospital, Main Multan Road, Jail Road, Jinnah Town, PASCO Society, Defence Chowk, Arfa Software Technology Park, NLC Complex, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Ghazi Road, UET GT Road, DHA Phase One, Kamaha Station, Haji Camp, Shalimar Bagh, Chohang Police Training Center, Data Darbar Road, LUMS, DHA Phase Two, Dera Gujran, Lahore Junction, Swami Nagar, Metro Bus Station General Hospital, DHA Phase Five, Bhatti Chowk, Bedian Road and Allama Iqbal Road.

Sajid Bashir said that concerned teams are reviewing air pollution situation in different areas and machinery is being shifted from one place to another as needed.

Environment Department said that operations will continue in more polluted areas on basis of monitoring readings and anti-smog guns will also be deployed at more places according to situation.