STORY: People in Lahore, Pakistan, were seen wearing face masks on Saturday (October 25) as thick smog blanketed the city, prompting fresh concerns over air pollution. A local resident urged the government to take stronger action to tackle the crisis.

According to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 412 at around 7 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), placing it in the “hazardous” category and ranking it as the world’s most polluted city.

Smog is a recurring issue in Lahore during the winter months, when cold, dense air traps pollutants such as vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, and dust. This seasonal phenomenon affects many parts of South Asia.

This week, the situation worsened due to agricultural burning and smoke from Diwali firecrackers in neighboring India. Winds carried the pollution across the border into Lahore, according to a spokesperson from the Punjab Environment Protection Agency.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LAHORE, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. SUN RISING BEHIND PLANTS

2. VARIOUS OF SMOG SHROUDING BUILDINGS

3. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC ON ROADS AMID SMOG

4. VARIOUS OF WOMEN WEARING FACE MASKS WALKING ON STREET

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, KHALID GILL, SAYING:

”It (smog) is causing breathing problems, itching of the eyes as it (smog) has intensified in the last two, three days. The government should think about bringing a permanent solution to it. It comes every year during these days and causes a lot of inconvenience for the people.”

6. PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET AMID SMOG

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, MUKHTAR HUSSAIN, SAYING:

”The government should control it (smog). Children are falling sick, people are suffering from sore throat, women and elderly people are falling sick, and people are suffering from respiratory problems. What is our government doing?”

8. VARIOUS OF MOTORCYCLISTS ON STREET AMID SMOG

9. VARIOUS OF POWER LINES SEEN AMID SMOG

10. TREE SEEN AMID SMOG