Lahore's October AQI stayed below 300 for first time in five years, minister says
Senior Punjab minister Maryam Aurangzeb said Lahore's air pollution in October 2026 fell 27 percent from a year earlier. No day in the month saw the Air Quality Index exceed 300, a first in five years.
- Lahore's air pollution fell 27 percent in October 2026 compared with October 2025, the minister said.
- No October 2026 day had an AQI above 300; October 2025 had four such days.
- Average PM2.5 fell from 136.3 to 100.1 micrograms.
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said that Lahore's air pollution in October 2026 was 27 percent lower than in the same month last year. She said that for the first time in five years, no day in October saw the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) go above 300.
Lahore recorded four hazardous days with an AQI above 300 in October 2025, but none in October 2026. October 2026 was declared the city's cleanest month since October 2023.
The average level of PM2.5 in Lahore was 136.3 micrograms in October 2025 and 100.1 micrograms in October 2026. The highest AQI level recorded in the city in October 2026 was 28 percent lower than the peak a year earlier.
The minister cited data from the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, which shows pollution declined at all 26 of Lahore's monitoring locations. She also cited Punjab Climate Watch data showing a 15 percent overall improvement across six major pollution indicators.
Ms Aurangzeb also spoke about NASA's fire detection system. She said it identifies thermal changes, but each detection cannot be treated as a separate fire incident. She said: "The severity of air pollution cannot be determined merely by looking at satellite images or counting fire incidents."
She said wind direction, temperature and weather conditions also play an important role in Lahore's air pollution. For that reason, she said, improvements should not be credited solely to government policies.
She said an independent review and transparent monitoring of the air quality improvement data is necessary. In her words: "An independent review and transparent monitoring of the air quality improvement figures is necessary."
Why it matters for Pakistan
Lahore residents face serious health risks from smog, so official air quality figures directly affect them. The reported fall in PM2.5 and the absence of days with AQI above 300 in October describe conditions in the city this past month. The minister's call for independent review means the figures may be checked further.
