(image attribution: wikipedia)

According to the most recent World Health Organization data, there are some good reasons to be worried about the air quality in Lahore, with an yearly average of 68 µg/m3 of PM2.5, which corresponds to a 155 - Unhealthy Air Quality Index

Obviously, 165 - Unhealthy is just a yearly average, and the air pollution can reach much higher 300+ hazardous levels- just like the recent smog events in early November 2016.

Unfortunately, there is currently no known Air Quality monitoring network with PM_2.5 data available in Lahore, nor in Pakistan (source).

• Pakistan Environment Protection Agency: environment.gov.pk
• Environment Protection Department: epd.punjab.gov.pk.
• World Health Organization: who.int

Quote from from epd.punjab.gov.pk/air_pollution:

According to a recent study, average air pollution in big cities is about 4 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limits.

Main Causes Vehicular emissions Industrial emissions Dust fall Effects Respiratory diseases and eye irritation etc. Reduced visibility Loss of vegetation Damage to material, heritage and monuments Effects on growth of plants

Remedies Always keep your vehicle in good condition Prefer 4 stroke engine vehicles Use CNG as transport fuel Limit the industrial effluents as per National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) Do not establish industrial units within the residential areas Apply 3R formula i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Plant as many trees as possible