Lahore, Pakistan Air Quality & Smog

Dominant pollutants, when pollution and smog are worst, a notable historical episode, and the official monitoring agencies for Lahore, Pakistan — plus how to check the current reading. Lahore reports air quality on the Pakistan Air Quality Index, not the US AQI — our guide to world air-quality indices explains how the major scales compare.

Dominant pollutants

PM2.5 — among the highest of any major city.

Seasonal pattern: when smog is worst

Lahore, in Pakistan's Punjab, suffers some of the world's most severe winter smog (roughly November–January). Crop-residue burning across Punjab (on both sides of the India–Pakistan border), vehicle and industrial emissions, brick kilns, and temperature inversions combine. Pakistan uses an AQI similar in structure to the US and Indian scales.

A notable air-quality episode

Through the winters of 2021–2024, Lahore repeatedly ranked as the most polluted major city on Earth in live rankings, with AQI above 400 prompting "smog emergency" measures, school closures, and restrictions on kilns and crop burning.

The local index and who runs it

Lahore reports air quality using the Pakistan Air Quality Index, not the US AQI — so the same air can read as a different number than you may be used to. Punjab's EPA and independent monitors publish readings; for how Pakistan's 0–500 scale compares, see our world air-quality indices guide.

• Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

How to check air quality in Lahore

For the official live reading, the agency portals above are the canonical source. To understand what the numbers mean, see our guide to world air-quality indices and how they compare to the US AQI. Smog Report puts glanceable air quality on your iPhone — widgets, Live Activities, Siri, and Apple Watch — free and with no account.

Common questions about Lahore air quality

Why does Lahore have air-quality and smog problems?

Lahore, in Pakistan's Punjab, suffers some of the world's most severe winter smog (roughly November–January). Crop-residue burning across Punjab (on both sides of the India–Pakistan border), vehicle and industrial emissions, brick kilns, and temperature inversions combine. Pakistan uses an AQI similar in structure to the US and Indian scales.

What are the main air pollutants in Lahore?

Lahore's dominant pollutants are PM2.5 — among the highest of any major city. The reading on any given day is usually driven by whichever of these is highest.

Has Lahore had a major air-quality or smog event?

Through the winters of 2021–2024, Lahore repeatedly ranked as the most polluted major city on Earth in live rankings, with AQI above 400 prompting "smog emergency" measures, school closures, and restrictions on kilns and crop burning.

What air-quality index does Lahore use?

Lahore reports air quality on the Pakistan Air Quality Index (AQI), not the US AQI — so the same air can read as a different number than you may be used to. For live, glanceable readings on your iPhone, the free Smog Report app auto-selects the right local index for wherever you are.

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