ISLAMABAD: The ongoing smog crisis in Pakistan has worsened, as toxic air from neighbouring India has engulfed various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after already blanketing Punjab.
Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, has now become the most polluted city in the world, surpassing other major cities in the South Asian nation.
According to a report by IQAir, which tracks real-time data of air quality worldwide, the air quality index (AQI) in Peshawar reached 718 around 7 pm on Sunday, making it the top-ranked city on the list of the most polluted urban centres globally.
At the same time, the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses significant health risks—was recorded at 434 micrograms per cubic meter in Peshawar, which is more than 87 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.
The situation in Punjab has also been dire. In Multan, the AQI reached 497, while Lahore ranked third in the country with an AQI of 348, according to the Swiss air quality monitor. Other cities in Punjab like Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, and Sargodha also reported poor air quality.
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According to IQAir, Pakistan is battling severe air pollution, with an annual Air Quality Index (AQI) of 160, more than 14.7 times the World Health Organization’s air quality guideline value.
Pakistan has the second worst air quality in the world after Bangladesh.
According to a report by IQAir, Pakistan’s cleanest city in 2023 was Abbottabad with AQI 97. AQI below 50 is considered healthy.
Toxic Air from India Contributing to the Crisis
Pakistan has attributed this year’s particularly severe pollution levels to the influx of toxic air from neighbouring India.
Air quality in parts of India, including the capital New Delhi, has also reached hazardous levels, further contributing to the worsening smog in Pakistan. As of today, the AQI in New Delhi stands at 275.
Top Ten Polluted Countries
In 2023, South Asia was one of the worst-performing regions globally, home to all three of the most polluted countries.
Bangladesh had the worst air quality in the world, with its average air quality exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safety guidelines by nearly 16 times.
Pakistan ranked second, with an annual Air Quality Index (AQI) of 160—more than 14.7 times the WHO guidelines—followed closely by India.
In 2023, 29 of the 30 most polluted cities were in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Millions Die Annually from Air Pollution
Millions of people die each year from air pollution-related health issues.
UNICEF reports that nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, with half of all childhood pneumonia deaths linked to it.
According to UNICEF, every year, air pollution is estimated to cause the deaths of 130,000 children under the age of 5 in South Asia.
According to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute report, compiled by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the poor air has shortened the lives of Lahore residents by 7.5 years.
Another report in Chicago says that fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person.
Top Ten Cleanest Countries
According to IQAir, French Polynesia was the cleanest country in the world in 2023. The following are the 10 countries that had “healthy” air quality in 2023.
