When smog rolls across the subcontinent, it makes no distinction between Lahore and Delhi, friend or foe.

This toxic haze defies borders and geopolitical tensions, drifting freely from one city to another, creating an unspoken crisis that endangers millions. As a policy analyst in Islamabad, I can’t help but ponder the possibility of cross-border cooperation between Pakistan and India to tackle this shared emergency. The air that hangs thick with pollutants over Delhi one day drifts across to Lahore and vice versa, with both cities often alternating as the world’s most polluted on any given day. This relentless cycle begs the question: could the pressing issue of air pollution finally bring our countries together in meaningful dialogue?

Recently, Pakistan’s leadership floated the concept of “climate diplomacy” with India, emphasizing that our intertwined environmental fates call for solutions that transcend the typical political discourse. This approach underlines the immediate need to set rivalries aside and find common ground in mitigating the impacts of climate change, which endangers millions on both sides of the border. The scale of pollution in Lahore is shocking. According to IQAir, Lahore recently recorded the worst air quality globally, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) so high it shattered previous records, posing severe health risks. Data from the World Bank indicates that air pollution decreases the average life expectancy of Pakistanis by 4.3 years and results in economic losses exceeding 6.5 per cent of the GDP. Such figures aren’t mere statistics; they are an urgent reminder of the harm inflicted on the most vulnerable who suffer through this haze that has become a disturbing part of daily life.

The smog crisis is now making inroads into Islamabad. The government has issued health advisories urging children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma to wear masks when outdoors. Although the air quality in Islamabad isn’t as dire as Lahore’s, the concentration of PM 2.5 ug/m³ has surged to 186 ug/m³, far above the safe limit of 35 ug/m³ set by the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Several sources contribute to this decline in air quality: ongoing construction projects at the Serena and PTCL Chowk........

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