Lahore Ranked World's Most Polluted City With AQI 344
Lahore recorded the world's highest air pollution levels on October 23, with particulate matter reaching 57 times the World Health Organization's annual guidelines.
Lahore became the world's most polluted major city on October 23, 2026, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 344. Data from IQAir, a Swiss monitoring platform, identified PM2.5 particulate matter as the primary pollutant. In some areas of the city, such as Iqbal Town, readings reached as high as 535, representing concentrations 57 times the annual guideline set by the World Health Organization.
New Delhi ranked as the second most polluted major city with an AQI of 244, followed by other high-pollution centers including Dakar, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Experts attribute the hazardous air quality to cooler seasonal air trapping a combination of crop-residue smoke, industrial fumes, construction dust, and traffic emissions.
Health officials have advised residents to wear masks to reduce the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Additionally, UNICEF warned that the current air quality levels increase the risk of acute respiratory infections in children.
