Lahore’s annual smog season has begun. On October 13, data compiled by Bloom Pakistan showed an air quality index (AQI) of 300 near the CERP office in Gulberg, 244 in Kahna Nau, 224 on Burki Road, 220 in Model Town and 201 in DHA Phase 6. The Punjab Environmental Protection Department’s own live platform showed an overall reading of 184 at 10pm.
Readings differ between monitoring stations, times and methods, but all of these sit in the “unhealthy” range or worse.
Why October matters
Smog builds as temperatures fall and winds drop. On October 13 the wind speed in Lahore was only about 5 km/h, which lets pollution from vehicles, industry and construction dust collect close to the ground. Rain forecast for parts of northeastern Punjab could bring brief relief but was not guaranteed.
Last year’s peak
On November 1, 2025, IQAir readings hit 500, the maximum value, in Dera Ghazi Khan and Kasur, and some Lahore locations recorded values above 900 on local sensors, Dunya News reported. Experts at the time warned that November is typically the peak smog month.
What the government did then
Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab ran a province-wide anti-smog operation covering traffic enforcement, road sprinkling and inspections of industrial emissions, with continuous PM2.5 and PM10 monitoring.
Protecting your health
- Check the hourly AQI before outdoor exercise. Above 150, sensitive groups should limit time outside, and above 200, everyone should.
- Well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks filter fine particles far better than cloth masks.
- Keep windows closed on bad days. Air purifiers with HEPA filters help indoors.
- Children, older people and anyone with asthma or heart disease should see a doctor if breathing problems worsen.
Read our columns for views on clean air policy, and follow Punjab coverage for advisories.
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