Lahore was ranked the world’s most polluted city on Sunday, according to Swiss monitoring group IQAir, as thick smog engulfed Pakistan’s second largest city.
IQAir’s reading for Lahore was 237 at noon local time (0700 GMT) and labelled as ‘very unhealthy’, far above the ‘good’ air threshold of 0-50.
Despite the conditions, residents still gathered for Sunday morning cricket.
“We come to the ground for fresh air,” said local resident Mohammad Zubair. “If we have to wear masks here too, where will fresh air come from?“
The Punjab government has taken various steps including deploying anti-smog guns spraying water to curb pollution but it offers temporary relief only.
Plain areas of Pakistan’s province of Punjab, of which Lahore is capital, are prone to thick smog every winter as cold, heavy air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from agricultural fires.
Locals urged a stronger government response such as providing free public transport, and accused authorities of unequal implementation of anti-smog measures across the city.
“Government is spraying [mist through anti-smog guns] but that is happening in posh areas. Here in these areas, in inner Lahore, there are no anti-smog guns, nothing has been done,” said Kashif Butt.
“The government should make transport free [of cost], so that there are less bikes [on roads].”
— With input from Reuters
