Lahore and Karachi ranks among world’s top five polluted cities

Lahore and Karachi declared as the world’s most polluted cities, and featured on the list of ‘world’s top five’ most polluted cities on the second and third rank respectively.

US Air Quality Index has recently released the air pollution data, Lahore recorded a particulate matter (PM) rating of 181 that placed the city at second rank on the global index of highly polluted cities.

Whereas, Karachi with the rating of 172 particulate matter (PM) ranked as the third most polluted city in the world.

As per the standards of air quality index, if the PM rating lies between 151 and 20o, the city would be considered as ‘unhealthy’, rating between 201 and 300 falls under the category of ‘highly unhealthy‘ and anything above 301 falls under the ‘hazardous‘ category.

More news:  LHC orders to impose smog emergency in Punjab

In the winter season the air becomes heavier as compared to the summer season, as it causes poisonous particles in the atmosphere to move downwards and making the environment polluted. As the result, a layer of contaminated particles, including large amount of carbon and smoke, engulfed the city, experts told.

Meanwhile, LHC also ordered the authorities to impose smog emergency in the Punjab ahead of the winter season.

The court also ordered to immediately close down the smoke-emitting factories. “Immediate action should be taken against people involved in burning the crop,” the judge added.