Lahore tops world’s most polluted cities as AQI hits hazardous levels

People walk amid smoggy conditions in Lahore. PIC/AFP

Lahore has been ranked as the world's most polluted city for the past three days, with air quality plummeting to hazardous levels as smog blanketed the city and the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 412.

According to Dawn, the Lower Mall area was the worst-affected neighbourhood, with an AQI of 680, followed by Iqbal Town (577), Syed Maratib Ali Road (543), Shadman (507), the Punjab University area (506), and Shalimar (495).

Environmental experts have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, particularly in the morning and evening, and to ensure wearing masks when outside. In the ratings by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Kolkata features second on the most polluted city list while Delhi takes third place.

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