Following Diwali celebrations in India, heavy fireworks triggered a sharp rise in regional pollution levels, which in turn worsened air quality across the border in Lahore, Pakistan. On Tuesday morning, just a day after residents across the National Capital Region (NCR) lit firecrackers to mark the Hindu festival of lights, Delhi awoke to a thick and choking layer of smog. The pollution surge was significant, with thirty-four of Delhi’s thirty-seven air monitoring stations recording air quality in the ‘red zone’a level classified as ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’.

The deteriorating conditions prompted an outpouring of concern on social media platform X. One user shared a haunting image of the night sky over Delhi on October 20, 2025, writing that the haze was so thick that even the city’s lights struggled to pierce through. Another wrote on X, “Clean air isn’t a privilege; it’s policy. Yet, India chokes on inaction yearly.” A third user noted grimly, “Delhi’s air isn’t fog it’s smog. AQI beyond limits. We’re gasping, not living.” Another user posted, “Delhi’s AQI exceeds 1000 in some areas, surpassing the maximum limit.

I can literally feel the smog in my eyes and throat.” The Indian capital, New Delhi, recorded an AQI of 821, making it the most polluted city in the world. Meteorological data indicated that smog-carrying winds, moving at a speed of 5 kilometres per hour from Dharamshala, crossed into Pakistan through Gujranwala and headed towards Lahore and Faisalabad. In response, all relevant departments across Punjab have been mobilised. Anti-smog guns are being deployed at identified hotspots to help suppress airborne pollutants. Authorities have also urged the public to wear masks and follow recommended health precautions.

According to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency’s classification, an AQI of 0 to 100 is considered clean and safe, while 101 to 200 falls under the polluted but tolerable category. Lahore, at 251, has far exceeded these limits. Meanwhile, Karachi’s air quality is also deteriorating due to seasonal changes. The city has ranked sixth among the world’s most polluted cities and eighth within Pakistan. In the federal capital, Islamabad, the weather is also expected to remain dry with no rain forecast in the next 24 hours.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)