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1 Mar 2026
Pakistan Air Quality Initiative
Air pollution is a public health emergency in Pakistan.
Data-driven research and advocacy for clean air. We provide community-driven air quality data and resources to increase social awareness.
Lahore A father going to drop off his son at school during a Lahore winter morning
Photo credit: Mahera Omar, PAQI
128,000
premature deaths per year from air pollution
3.9 years
years of life expectancy lost per Pakistani
0 days
clean air days in Lahore in 2024 (WHO standards)
6.5%
of GDP lost annually to air pollution
Stories
lahore
How Lahore Became the Global Epicenter of Air PollutionFrom seasonal smog to year-round crisis — the factors that made Lahore one of the most polluted cities on Earth.
15 Nov 2024
karachi
The Burning Crisis: Waste Incineration and Air Quality in KarachiOpen waste burning along railway lines and in informal settlements is a major but overlooked source of toxic air pollution in Pakistan's largest city.
20 Aug 2024
islamabad
Even Islamabad is Not Spared: Haze Over the CapitalPakistan's planned capital, once known for clean mountain air, now regularly experiences hazardous pollution levels during winter months.
10 Jun 2024
podcast
Fighting for Clean AirA grassroots movement is addressing air pollution through citizen activism. The audio documentary "Clearing the Air" tells this story.
14 Dec 2022
podcast
Lockdowns revealed dramatic NO2 reductions across Pakistani cities — but pollution levels remained above safe thresholds.
1 May 2020
Resources
Report
Unveiling Pakistan's Air Pollution
A National Landscape Report on Health Risks, Sources and Solutions — 20 chapters covering emissions data, city analyses, health impacts, and policy pathways.
Data
Pollution Stripes
Daily PM2.5 readings visualised as colour stripes for cities across Pakistan.
Explore →