Lahore's smog season has begun, but the worst is probably still weeks away. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit about 295 on October 3, then eased to 163 on the evening of October 9 and to 82 by Monday afternoon as rain arrived, according to Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. Smog in Lahore runs mainly from October to February, and last December readings were back above 400.

Punjab has already restarted its anti-smog operations, and the first checks on vehicles and farms are under way. Here is what the numbers say now, what happened last winter, what causes the smog, what Punjab has tried and how to protect yourself.

Lahore AQI so far this October

These are spot readings from Punjab EPA's live dashboard, so they differ by hour and by monitoring station.

What forecasters and officials are saying

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of rain from a westerly wave over upper and central Pakistan, and Lahore is among the areas expected to get rain and thunderstorms. The National Disaster Management Authority expects rain, wind and isolated hail across Punjab on October 10, 11 and 13.

That should help for a few days. Dr Munawar Sabir, an expert quoted by The Express Tribune, said rain brings some pollutants down to the ground, but relief is temporary and the seasonal threat remains.

On the government side, Punjab stepped up enforcement on September 30, when Lahore's AQI was 158. Drone, night and "Hawk Eye" squads were deployed on the chief minister's orders, and 269 industrial units were inspected in 24 hours. Punjab also plans 20 smoke opacity meters to test vehicle emissions.

What happened last smog season

Last winter's readings were severe, with Lahore repeatedly among the world's most polluted cities between late October and December.

The season before was worse. In November 2024, AQI readings passed 1,000, schools in main Punjab cities were closed until November 17, and about 900 patients were admitted to hospitals in Lahore in a single day. AFP's analysis found that the 2024 to 2025 season started a month earlier, in October, and stayed at higher levels.

Peak readings last winter were lower than in November 2024, but different monitors and times make direct comparison unreliable.

What causes Lahore's smog

Smog forms when pollution from vehicles, industry, brick kilns and burning crop residue is trapped by cool, humid, nearly windless air. The disagreement is over how much each source contributes, and official estimates differ widely:

The differences come from method and geography: some figures cover the whole province and others only Lahore. Punjab's EPA rejected the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative findings, saying more than 80% of Lahore's industry has emission controls and pointing to cross-border pollution. Officials have long blamed smoke from Indian Punjab, and the Met Office says easterly winds do carry some polluted particles into Lahore. Other experts describe a mix of weather and local human sources.

In 2024, Punjab had around 25 million registered vehicles, and Lahore alone had about 5.2 million motorbikes and 1.3 million cars.

What Punjab has done, and whether it worked

• Enforcement: drone, night and Hawk Eye squads inspect factories, with live CCTV monitoring of industrial emissions introduced in 2024.
• Farmers: officials say 215,000 farmers have been contacted and 431,000 trained, and crop residue on about 1.26 million acres has been managed using 2,800 Kabuta machines, plus balers on around 89,000 acres. Subsidised super seeders and shredders also help.
• Vehicles: in the 2024 to 2025 season, 18,069 smoky vehicles were penalised and 13,678 impounded. This year Punjab plans 20 smoke opacity meters.
• Emergency measures: school closures, winter holidays, smart lockdowns and a heavy-vehicle ban from November 2024 to January 2025.
• Transport: 27 electric buses have been approved for Lahore.
• Gadgets: smog guns, a test of artificial rain in 2024, and an anti-smog tower that was shut two months after installation.

The results are mixed. AFP reported that Punjab increased its monitors tenfold to around 30 and offered subsidised machinery to farmers, yet experts called the anti-smog machines effectively useless. Because most estimates put transport as the largest source, the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative study calls for cleaner fuels and electric two- and three-wheelers alongside better farming practices.

How to read the AQI and protect yourself

The international AQI scale treats 300 and above as hazardous. Punjab's EPA dashboard uses its own labels (82 was "Satisfactory", 126 "Moderate"), so compare the number, not just the colour.

Practical steps for smog days:

• Check the live reading on Punjab EPA's dashboard (aqi.punjab.gov.pk) before you go out.
• Wear a well-fitted N95 or equivalent mask outdoors when AQI is above 200; cloth masks filter little.
• Keep windows closed in the early morning and at night, when smog is usually thickest, and ventilate when readings dip.
• Use a HEPA air purifier in the room where you sleep if you can.
• Never burn rubbish or leaves, which adds to local pollution.
• See a doctor if you or your child develop breathing difficulty, persistent cough or chest pain.

Lahore smog FAQ

When is smog season in Lahore? Mainly October to February, according to Punjab EPA. Readings in the last two seasons peaked between November and December.

What is Lahore's AQI today? Check Punjab EPA's live dashboard, because it changes hourly. On the afternoon of October 12 it read 82.

Will schools close for smog this year? No closures had been announced at the time of writing. Punjab has closed schools, shifted classes online and imposed smart lockdowns in past seasons.

What is the main cause of Lahore's smog? Estimates differ, but most official figures put transport first, followed by industry, with crop residue burning, brick kilns and weather conditions adding to it.

Does rain clear the smog? Only temporarily. Rain washes some particles out of the air, but the seasonal build-up returns.

Is it safe to exercise outdoors? Only on days when AQI is low. Move workouts indoors when it passes about 150, and sooner if you have asthma or heart disease.

Sources

Reporting based on Punjab EPA data and news coverage as of October 13, 2026.

• Punjab EPA: Lahore live AQI
• Express Tribune: rain forecast promises smog relief
• PakWheels: Punjab expands vehicle emissions testing
• The Nation: Punjab steps up anti-smog operations
• Pakera: Lahore AQI on October 9 and Punjab AQI on October 10
• Express Tribune: hazardous AQI in Punjab cities
• Daily Times: Lahore battles severe air pollution
• Aaj News: Punjab locks down 10 districts
• The News: smog blankets city, AQI 353
• Dawn: AQI shoots to 1,165
• AFP via Khaleej Times: record smog triggers anguish
• Aaj News: vehicle emissions biggest contributor
• Business Recorder: EPD source shares
• Profit: Pakistan Air Quality Initiative report
• The Standard: Punjab smog mitigation roadmap