Lahore becomes world’s most polluted city despite government action  

Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, is once again ranked the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday, despite government efforts to reduce toxic smog in the metropolis.

Lahore topped the real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 331 around 10 pm, according to Swiss group IQAir.

AQI is a standardized tool for measuring air pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone and serves as an important barometer for public health.

An AQI of 101 to 200 is considered “unhealthy”, especially for sensitive groups, an AQI of 201 to 300 is “very unhealthy”, and anything above 300 is considered “dangerous”.

Authorities in Pakistan’s most populous province announced new schedules for schools and markets last week due to heavy smog, but residents complained on Monday that the government’s efforts were not bearing fruit.

News “Smog occurs every year because of burning stumps and smoke from brick kilns. They (government officials) know that. They need to plan accordingly. They pay their salaries.  All we do is receive it,” said Ali Mohammad, a shopkeeper in Lahore in an interview to Arab