LAHORE (Kashmir English): In a recent worldwide evaluation of air quality, Pakistan has been ranked as the world’s most polluted country, ahead of all other nations, with India ranking second.
The environmentalists have documented that Lahore had an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 304, a rate highly dangerous to human health.
At the same time, Delhi and Faisalabad are also facing critical pollution levels, where AQI is up to 221.
Experts have cautioned that an AQI reading above 302 is dangerous to health, making it more likely for people to develop respiratory and other ailments.
The increase in air pollution has been linked to crop burning, vehicle exhaust, and industrial effluents.
The government has issued a warning that air quality is likely to worsen over the next few days, asking citizens to restrict unnecessary exposure to the outdoors and employ protective masks.
To this, the Environmental Protection Department keeps working against sources of pollution, and the Lahore district administration and Transport Department have stepped up raids against smoke-spewing vehicles to stem the deteriorating trend.
