As Lahore tops pollution charts, Pakistan blames India as the cause

A senior minister in Pakistan's Punjab government, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has attributed recent spikes in Lahore's air pollution levels to polluted winds blowing in from Indian cities like Amritsar and Chandigarh. As per a TOI report, in a televised press conference on Sunday, Aurangzeb emphasised the need for dialogue with India to address the escalating air quality index (AQI) issues. Her statement came a day after Lahore's AQI reached an alarming 1,067.

Aurangzeb, who oversees environment protection and climate change within the provincial government, stated that “with the change in the wind’s direction and speed, the AQI of Lahore is now around 500.” On Saturday, the AQI reportedly surged to 1,067 in Lahore's centre before dropping to 200, later stabilising between 180 and 200 as winds shifted.

Referring to scientific data, Aurangzeb explained that the winds causing the pollution originated from various Indian cities, including Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bathinda, Sri Ganganagar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar. These winds had reportedly swept across Lahore, pushing AQI levels to unprecedented highs.


According to Aurangzeb, addressing the cross-border smog issue is only feasible through cooperative efforts. “We cannot stop or redirect the Indian air; the only solution is dialogue,” she noted, underscoring the need for coordinated action between Pakistan and India to mitigate the air quality crisis.

She added that the Pakistan Punjab government plans to approach Pakistan's federal foreign ministry, urging them to raise the issue diplomatically with India. Aurangzeb also recommended that local farmers adopt machinery to manage crop stubble instead of burning it, which can exacerbate pollution.

In previous statements, Pakistan Punjab's Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, also expressed intentions to reach out to her Indian counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, to implement measures aimed at reducing air pollution.

Inputs from TOI