Lahore topped IQAir’s live ranking of major cities early Nov. 3, while Delhi moved into Stage II of its smog-control plan as pollution worsened across northern India and neighboring Pakistan.
IQAir’s early Tuesday snapshot put Lahore’s air-quality index (AQI) at 447 and Delhi’s at 215. The live major-city ranking covers roughly 120 cities and refreshes at least hourly, making these readings a point-in-time measure rather than an annual ranking.
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rated Delhi’s air very poor at 332. The CPCB and IQAir readings for Delhi use different scales and calculation methods, so those two figures are not equivalent.
Reuters reported that seasonal conditions can keep emissions from traffic, construction and crop-residue burning near the ground. Authorities cited falling temperatures and slow winds in Lahore. Reuters said Lahore’s reported PM2.5 concentration was 60 times the World Health Organization (WHO)’s annual-average exposure guideline. PM2.5 consists of particles no larger than 2.5 microns that can reach the lungs; the comparison is with an annual-average benchmark and does not establish a yearlong exposure level.
Delhi’s controls have taken effect in stages. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated 25 Stage I controls across the National Capital Region on Oct. 21, after Delhi’s air quality reached the poor range. Stage II took effect Nov. 2, adding a further phase to the plan.
Reuters also reported enforcement action against brick kilns that breach environmental rules in Pakistan. The outlet said officials continued urging farmers to avoid burning crop residue after harvest. Residents across the region face respiratory risks as the seasonal haze worsens.
India’s Supreme Court order permits only approved green crackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region. For the local dates of Nov. 7 and 8, the allowed windows are 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET (8 to 10 p.m. India time) and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET on the preceding calendar day (6 to 7 a.m. India time). The order calls for air-quality reports covering the festival dates and the period afterward, restores the full ban Nov. 9, and sets a compliance hearing for Dec. 16.
