Pakistan has been ranked the third most polluted country in 2024, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter. Major cities show persistent high pollution levels, and health problems related to smog affect nearly 70% of the population. The report indicates that five cities recorded pollution levels exceeding 200 microns, necessitating urgent attention to air quality management.
In the World Air Quality Report published by IQAir, Pakistan has been ranked as the third most polluted country in the world for 2024, following Chad and Bangladesh. The report indicates that Pakistan’s average concentration of PM2.5 particles, which are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, stands at 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter, nearly 15 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite ongoing high pollution levels, there has been no significant change compared to the previous year.
Within the Central and South Asia region, Pakistan holds the second position for air pollution, trailing Bangladesh. Major cities such as Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, and Sialkot rank among the 15 most polluted cities in the region. The report attributes Pakistan’s persistent pollution levels to numerous factors, including industrial emissions, vehicular pollutants, biomass burning, and construction dust. Particularly, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore have witnessed increasing annual average pollution levels, whereas Faisalabad saw negligible changes. In contrast, Karachi recorded a decrease in PM2.5 levels from over 55 to approximately 46 micrograms per cubic meter.
The report underscores that five cities in Pakistan experienced pollution levels exceeding 200 microns in November. Data analysis was conducted using information from over 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 138 countries. A separate survey by Ipsos revealed that around 70% of the Pakistani population suffers health issues linked to smog exposure. Chad’s pollution levels surpassed WHO safe limits by 18 times, while India’s pollution was ten times above the recommended threshold.
The report also identifies Byrnihat as the most polluted metropolitan area in 2024, with an alarming average PM2.5 level of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter. New Delhi was ranked the most polluted capital globally, followed closely by N’Djamena in Chad, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Islamabad in Pakistan. Across India, the overall average for PM2.5 was 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter. In stark contrast, Oceania remains the cleanest region regarding air quality in 2024.
In summary, Pakistan’s air quality remains critically poor, placing it third in global pollution rankings, significantly behind Chad and Bangladesh. The persistence of high PM2.5 levels across major cities continues to pose severe health risks to the population. The report highlights the multifaceted sources of pollution and the urgent need for effective measures. Furthermore, while some cities like Karachi demonstrate slight improvements, many others are worsening, indicating a pressing concern for public health and environmental management.
Original Source: tribune.com.pk
