March 11, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
A recent report by IQAir has placed Pakistan among the top five most polluted countries globally, raising serious concerns about public health and environmental sustainability within the nation. The 7th annual World Air Quality Report, released today, analyzed data from over 40,000 monitoring stations worldwide, revealing alarming trends in air pollution.
According to the report, Pakistan ranks third globally, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 μg/m3, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) annual guideline by more than 14 times. This places Pakistan behind only Chad and Bangladesh in terms of air pollution levels.
The report highlights that only 17% of global cities meet the WHO air pollution guidelines, underscoring the severity of the issue worldwide. In Pakistan, major urban centers like Lahore, Karachi, and Faisalabad are particularly affected, contributing significantly to the nation’s overall pollution levels.
“Air pollution remains a critical threat to both human health and environmental stability,” stated Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir. “Air quality data saves lives. It creates much needed awareness, informs policy decisions, guiding public health interventions, and empowers communities to take action to reduce air pollution and protect future generations.”
The report’s findings are particularly concerning for Pakistani citizens, who face increased risks of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and other health complications due to prolonged exposure to polluted air. The concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, is a major factor in these health risks.
While the report acknowledges progress in expanding air quality monitoring globally, it also highlights significant gaps in government-operated regulatory systems, particularly in regions like Africa. In Pakistan, there is a pressing need for increased monitoring and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
IQAir’s Schools4Earth initiative aims to address these gaps by providing schools with air quality monitors, thereby expanding the global monitoring network. This initiative holds particular relevance for Pakistan, where schools can serve as crucial monitoring points within communities.
“By outfitting schools worldwide with low-cost air quality monitors, over seven billion people would have access to hyper-local, real-time air quality data, creating a worldwide movement for cleaner air,” Hammes explained.
The report also emphasized the link between air quality, climate change, and human activities such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural practices, all of which are prevalent in Pakistan’s rapidly developing urban areas.
“The World Air Quality Report should be a rallying call for urgent and concerted international efforts to cut pollutant emissions,” stated Aidan Farrow, Senior Air Quality Scientist with Greenpeace International. “By highlighting the disproportionate risk posed to young people by air pollution, the report reminds us that a failure to act today will be felt by future generations.”
The findings of this report serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for Pakistan to implement comprehensive strategies to combat air pollution and protect the health of its citizens. This includes stricter environmental regulations, increased public awareness campaigns, and the adoption of cleaner technologies.