What is AQI?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a global scale that measures how clean or polluted the air is, ranging from 0 (healthy) to 500 (hazardous). Shockingly, Lahore recently crossed an AQI of 450, placing it among the most polluted cities in the world, even surpassing Delhi and Beijing. According to health experts, breathing in air with such a high AQI is equal to smoking 20+ cigarettes a day—a fact that should concern every resident.

Every year, Lahore faces the same issue. Imagine this air being inhaled by children, asthma patients, older people, and the rest of the population.

The thick layer of smog we see isn’t just fog—it’s a deadly mix of industrial emissions, vehicle smoke, and crop burning.

While policy changes take time, planting trees and reducing personal vehicle use by opting for carpooling or public transport can significantly reduce pollution levels. If every citizen plants just one tree a month, Lahore could see a noticeable shift in air quality within a year.