Two cities, one smog crisis |
This winter has revealed a clear difference between two cities that usually share the same smog season. Lahore and New Delhi sit in the same region and face similar weather, yet the air above them has told two very different stories. Delhi has continued to struggle with some of its worst pollution in recent years, while Lahore has shown a modest but noticeable improvement. Since both cities deal with the same seasonal pressures, the contrast suggests that policy choices and governance have played a direct role in shaping these outcomes.
Lahore has long been known as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Every year, as winter approaches, its residents brace for heavy haze, breathing difficulties and reduced visibility. Early this season, the situation seemed no different. Reports showed an Air Quality Index touching levels around 297 in October, and PM2.5 readings many times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization. As November progressed, however, the air in Lahore began to shift. Figures, published by local media, indicated that the average AQI for November dropped to nearly half of what it had been during the same month of the previous year. Several days still remained unhealthy, but the city saw far fewer days in the hazardous zone, offering a level of relief that many had not experienced in years.
This improvement did not happen by........