Civic awareness and environmental responsibility can drive lasting change. When individuals and communities align with government efforts, their collective impact can transform the future—making clean air a universal right, not a privilege.

The air quality in Lahore has reached alarming levels, impacting the health and daily lives of millions of its residents. This article explores the depth of the pollution crisis in Lahore and highlights the critical role of civic responsibility in addressing the issue. Understanding, awareness, and action are essential to combatting this public health emergency.
The Chief Minister of Punjab introduced smog mitigation actions through the “Roadmap for Smog Mitigation in Lahore 2024-2025; Smog Mitigation Actions” to engage the community, particularly the youth, in environmental protection. An analysis of satellite data identified Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, and DG Khan as the most polluted cities in Punjab. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emphasize the significant contribution of the transportation sector to the region's declining air quality. In response, the government has launched the Mera Punjab Smog-Free Internship program.¹
Understanding the Crisis
In recent years, Lahore's air quality has plummeted, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently hitting hazardous levels between 300 and 400—well above safe limits set by both the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards and the World Health Organization (WHO). Lahore’s population has now exceeded 13 million, according to the 2023 census, growing at a rate of 3.41 percent per year. This rapid growth is putting pressure on the city's infrastructure and contributing to rising levels of vehicle and industrial pollution.
Lahore’s air pollution has become an existential threat to public health. According to data from the World Air Quality Index, Lahore consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, often competing with cities like Delhi, Beijing, and Karachi. With the AQI frequently soaring above 300, the air is deemed "hazardous," with severe consequences for respiratory health, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions. Studies link high pollution levels to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and a reduction in life expectancy, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.

Following the court order, the Punjab Environment Protection Council approved a Smog Action Plan and adopted an AQI classification system in 2017. In November 2019, during the heart of Pakistan’s “smog season”, Lahore regularly came second only to Delhi–and sometimes overtook the Indian city–as the world’s most polluted city on IQAir AirVisual’s live rankings of major global cities.²

India has political issues with all its neighbors, particularly with Pakistan, which refuses to accept India's bullying and hegemony, particularly when it comes to accepting India as the net security provider in Asia and the Pacific. 

Air pollution in Lahore is primarily due to vehicular emissions, industrial output, crop burning, and construction dust. Seasonal changes also play a role; during winter, the air becomes dense with smog, creating an air quality crisis that traps pollutants in the lower atmosphere. Without immediate and sustained action, the quality of life and public health in Lahore are at stake.
Government Measures and Public Response
The Punjab government has implemented various measures to counteract air pollution. School closures on days with particularly high AQI readings are one such response, aimed at minimizing students' exposure to harmful air. Additionally, the government has introduced a “green lockdown,” temporarily restricting vehicular and industrial activities to curb emissions.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) of 1997 represents the most serious piece of legislation in the country’s history. Not only did it create federal and provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) to implement and supervise the rules and regulations under the Act, but it also introduced the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), which mandated limits on industrial emissions and ambient air quality.³
While these steps are intended to alleviate immediate health risks, they are stopgap solutions rather than long-term strategies. Critics argue that the impact of these initiatives is limited without stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and a systematic approach to reducing pollution sources. Effective long-term policy changes, such as enhancing public transportation infrastructure, enforcing emission standards for vehicles and industries, and supporting alternative energy sources, are essential. To complement these measures, community involvement is crucial to ensure sustained and significant improvements in air quality.

Smog Management Initiatives by the Punjab Government include:
• Green Mass Transit Program.
• Chief Minister Climate Leadership Development Internship Program.
• Chief Minister Solarization Program.
• CM Initiative of provision of Super Seeders and Rice Straw Shredders to the farmers to control stubble burning.⁴
The Smog Mitigation Strategy in Punjab focuses on a comprehensive approach involving strategic planning, institutional strengthening, enforcement of actions, and technological advancements. Key initiatives include the development of phase-wise action plans, collaboration with the private sector, academia, and non-profits, orgs. and the establishment of a Smog Monitoring Unit, Environment Protection Council, and a Smog Control Room. Enforcement measures include launching the Green Punjab App, Eco Watch App, and 1373 Smog Helpline, along with anti-smog patrolling, strict industry monitoring, and promoting sustainable transportation with e-buses and bikes. Other efforts include banning single-use plastics, mapping and upgrading brick kilns, traffic congestion management, plantation drives, and utilizing GIS tools to monitor stubble burning. Additionally, solarization of public institutions and the provision of farming equipment aim to address environmental concerns and health hazards.
Government initiatives to increase awareness and civic engagement include:
• Massive Tree Plantation Movement
• Unveiling 'Climate Corner' on YouTube
• Eco-Internship Program with university students
• Launching of Eco-Volunteer Program with university students and general public
• Establishment of Climate Councils (Mini-EPAs) in schools
• Creation of “ABC of Climate” book as well as its digital form
• A book of short stories for kids on environment and climate-related matters is under compilation
• Hamara Poda, Hamara Classfellow
• Daily updating activities of the EPA on social media pages to keep the public informed about the initiatives and environmental matters

With the AQI frequently soaring above 300, the air is deemed "hazardous," with severe consequences for respiratory health, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions.

Call to Action
Across Lahore, citizens and communities have launched various initiatives to combat air pollution. These grassroot efforts illustrate the growing awareness of civic responsibility and environmental consciousness among Lahoris. Carpooling campaigns, for example, encourage residents to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. This simple yet impactful practice can significantly lower vehicular emissions. Similarly, community clean-up events aim to clear streets and public areas of litter and dust, which are significant sources of particulate pollution.
Educational programs in schools also play an important role. Many local organizations conduct awareness sessions to educate children and adolescents about the health risks associated with pollution and practical ways to reduce their environmental impact. Students learn about the importance of reducing waste, planting trees, and minimizing their carbon footprint—key steps in cultivating a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
International Context and External Factors
The air pollution crisis in Lahore does not exist in isolation. Pakistan has pointed to regional factors, especially the pollution from neighboring India, as a contributor to Lahore’s worsening air quality. Crop burning, particularly in Northern India during the harvest season, generates significant smoke that drifts across borders, aggravating Lahore’s air pollution.
While diplomatic engagements have raised this issue, it is a complex, transboundary environmental challenge that requires cooperation and collaboration between Pakistan and India. Regional efforts, such as agreements on crop residue management and monitoring transboundary pollution, could contribute to a long-term solution. Addressing such regional environmental issues can benefit public health on both sides of the border, fostering greater environmental cooperation.
Actionable Steps for Community
As residents of Lahore, individuals can play a vital role in improving air quality by making conscious choices and participating in local environmental efforts. Here are some practical ways citizens can help:
• Advocate for Better Public Transportation. Using public transport instead of private vehicles reduces individual carbon footprints. Residents can encourage authorities to improve public transportation infrastructure and make it more accessible and efficient.
• Participate in Local Environmental Groups. Many organizations in Lahore are dedicated to environmental preservation. By joining these groups, residents can volunteer in clean-up events, awareness campaigns, and tree-planting drives, all of which have a positive impact on air quality.
• Educate Others. Civic awareness spreads through education. By educating friends, family, and community members about pollution sources, health impacts, and preventive actions, individuals can inspire others to join the movement for cleaner air.
• Support and Adopt Carpooling. Reducing the number of cars on the road through carpooling is a simple yet powerful way to cut emissions. Organizing carpools within neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces can make a significant difference.
• Plant Trees. Trees are natural air purifiers. Residents can support reforestation efforts and community gardening initiatives to improve local air quality and green urban spaces.
Lahore’s journey towards cleaner air will be neither swift nor easy. However, by increasing civic awareness and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, citizens can make meaningful contributions toward long-term solutions. When individuals and communities unite with the government’s efforts, the cumulative impact can be powerful. Initiating and supporting changes today can lead to a future where clean air is no longer a privilege but a right.
Real-time air quality data must be accessible to everyone with increased detail and granularity. When people understand the level of pollution they are exposed to, they can take better precautions and rally efforts to combat air pollution. Reducing emissions from industries and vehicles is essential to improving air quality. Air pollution control has to be a national priority, and steps have already been taken to reduce emissions from brick kilns. Under the Punjab Green Development Program (PGDP), further initiatives are planned, including the establishment of ten air quality monitoring stations in Lahore.
On an individual level, people can help lower emissions by carpooling, using public transportation, opting for greener fuel alternatives, and adopting other environmentally friendly practices in their daily lives.
On a broader scale, Pakistan can continue to encourage environmental precautions that benefit both nations. Joint initiatives on reducing crop burning, improving air quality monitoring, and investing in clean energy technologies can address the root causes of air pollution that affect millions on both sides of the border. Together, Pakistan and India can work towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Ultimately, every resident of Lahore has a role in this endeavor. Through informed choices, proactive engagement, and a sense of shared responsibility, citizens can transform the way their city confronts air pollution, protecting the health and well-being of future generations.

The writer has done MPhil in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defense University, Islamabad. 
E-mail: [email protected] 

1. “Chief Minister Punjab’s Roadmap For Smog Mitigation in Lahore 2024-25”, October 2024, https://epd.punjab.gov.pk/system/files/CM%20Punjab%20Smog%20Mitigation%20Plan%202024_FD_11102024.pdf
2. “Air quality in Lahore”, AQAIR, retrieved on November 12, 2024, https://www.iqair.com/pakistan/punjab/lahore?srsltid=AfmBOoo2ZsJYPeDJKwNNZKQ47eoOAUJ-WvEHg1y81JO9drOPA1Jwy99W 
3. Ali Habib, Sanval Nasim and Amna Shahab, “Charting Pakistan’s Air Quality Policy Landscape”, International Growth Centre, March 2021, E-21019-PAK-1, https://www.theigc.org/sites/default/files/2021/06/Habib-March-2021-Final-report.pdf 
4. “Chief Minister Punjab’s Roadmap For Smog Mitigation in Lahore 2024-25”, October 2024, https://epd.punjab.gov.pk/system/files/CM%20Punjab%20Smog%20Mitigation%20Plan%202024_FD_11102024.pdf