Punjab
Lahore tops the world pollution ranking again, with AQI at 590
Lahore was the world's most polluted major city on Monday with an AQI of 590 as Diwali smoke and stubble fires hit Punjab; relief is not due before Nov 11.
Lahore air quality
Lahore air quality: 3 The Indus Compass stories. Latest: Lahore tops the world pollution ranking again, with AQI at 590. Key developments, background and…
3 stories on Lahore air quality since 5 November 2026; the latest was published on 9 November 2026.
Key developments
- Lahore tops the world pollution ranking again, with AQI at 590Lahore ranked first among major cities on Monday with an AQI of 590 on IQAir, more than three times the level in second-placed Ulaanbaatar (177); a separate hourly reading showed 647.
- Air pollution costs Pakistan 6.5% of GDP, OICCI saysAir pollution costs Pakistan around 6.5 per cent of GDP, including lead exposure, and causes more than 248,000 premature deaths a year, according to the OICCI and State of Global Air figures.
- Fire hotspots near Lahore up 15% on last year as smog buildsThe Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) counted 3,712 fire hotspots within 300 km of Lahore between October 27 and November 2: 2,753 in Pakistan and 957 in India.
Health
Air pollution costs Pakistan 6.5% of GDP, OICCI says
Air pollution costs Pakistan about 6.5% of GDP and 248,000 premature deaths a year, experts say, as winter smog and falling investment add to the strain.
Punjab
Fire hotspots near Lahore up 15% on last year as smog builds
A satellite analysis found 3,712 fire hotspots within 300 km of Lahore in a week, 2,753 of them in Pakistan, 15 per cent more than last year, as PM2.5 rose.