Pakistan blames India's Diwali fireworks for Lahore's toxic air
An independent assessment found no clear evidence that Diwali fireworks alone caused Lahore’s pollution spike, citing crop burning, vehicle emissions and stagnant weather.
- On Tuesday, Lahore topped global air pollution rankings for a second consecutive day with an air quality index of 263, classified as "very unhealthy," as Pakistani officials blamed smog on pollutants drifting from India following Diwali celebrations.
- Environment Protection Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated light winds carried pollutants into Pakistani Punjab from India in the aftermath of Diwali. She said air pollution was "expected to gradually decrease" as weather conditions improved and winds shifted direction.
- Delhi ranked second globally with an air quality index of 188 on Tuesday. Indian government data showed firecrackers were responsible for nearly 55% of the PM2.5 levels in the capital during Diwali, intensifying the seasonal air crisis.
- Lahore's PM2.5 concentration reached 37.2 times above World Health Organization annual guidelines, indicating severe health risks. Vehicle emissions, construction dust, and crop-waste burning remain major contributors to winter pollution on both sides of the border.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party blamed crop-waste burning in Indian Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality this month, while officials previously noted that wind patterns occasionally reverse the airflow between the two nations.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Marium Aurangzeb in Pakistan blamed India and Diwali fireworks for Lahore's poor air quality index, but the Pakistan Air Quality Report suggests the real culprit is local stubble burning. Satellite data proves the pollution is not linked to Indian firecrackers.
As Delhi, Lahore blame Punjab for poor air, experts say why it's not possible
While the BJP-led Delhi government has blamed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab for failing to control stubble burning by farmers, West Punjab provincial government’s environment minister Marriyam Aurangzeb has also pinned the blame on East Punjab for “smoke from large-scale fireworks” travelling due to “wind direction” for Lahore's "severe" AQI.
Lahore beats Delhi on pollution chart, Pakistan blames India's Diwali celebrations
Pakistan blamed Diwali firecracker pollution drifting from India for Lahore's worsening air quality. The claim revived a cross-border dispute as Lahore and Delhi ranked among the world's most polluted major cities.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Pakistan says pollution from Diwali firecrackers in India worsened Lahore’s smog
Lahore was ranked world’s most polluted major city for second consecutive day on Tuesday
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