Lahore ranked most polluted city in the world on Wednesday

LAHORE: On Wednesday, Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, reported the most severe air quality deterioration as per the Air Quality Index (AQI). Lahore’s AQI reached an alarming 290, signifying extremely unhealthy conditions. In a similar vein, Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, featured among polluted urban centres, registering an AQI of 173. This ranking positioned Karachi as the fourth most polluted city globally.

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Different levels of AQI

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into several categories to describe the quality of the air. When the AQI falls within the range of 0 to 50, it is classified as “Good,” indicating that the air quality is excellent. If the AQI falls between 51 and 100, it is categorized as “Moderate,” which signifies that the air quality is acceptable. However, when the AQI reaches the range of 101 to 301, it is termed “Unhealthy,” indicating that the air quality has deteriorated and poses health risks. In the most extreme cases, with an AQI ranging from 301 to 500, it is labelled as “Hazardous.”