Pakistan Air Quality Alert – IQAir

Air Quality Report: Pakistan’s Challenge to Sustainable Development

This report details the severe air pollution crisis in Pakistan as of 27 October 2025, analyzing its causes and direct implications for the nation’s progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Current Air Quality Assessment and Health Implications (SDG 3)

National Overview

As of 27 October 2025, air quality across Pakistan is categorized as poor, with major urban centers registering “unhealthy” to “hazardous” levels on the Air Quality Index (AQI). The persistence of dangerously high PM2.5 concentrations poses a significant threat to public health, undermining SDG 3.

• 2024 National Average: Pakistan’s average PM2.5 concentration was 73.7 µg/m³, equivalent to an AQI of 160 (“unhealthy”).
• Global Ranking: This concentration level positioned Pakistan as the world’s third most polluted country in 2024.
• WHO Guideline Discrepancy: The national average is nearly 15 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual guideline of 5 µg/m³, highlighting a critical public health emergency.

Authorities have issued health warnings advising residents to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and use air purifiers to mitigate exposure, underscoring the immediate risk to human health and well-being.

Urban Pollution Hotspots and Sustainable Cities (SDG 11)

Several major cities are epicenters of the pollution crisis, directly challenging the objective of SDG 11 to create safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. On 27 October 2025, key cities recorded the following global rankings for pollution:

• Lahore: Ranked as the 2nd most polluted major city in the world.
• Karachi: Ranked as the 3rd most polluted major city in the world.

These conditions render Pakistan’s most populous cities unsustainable and hazardous for their inhabitants, especially vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Causal Factors and Linkages to Sustainable Development Goals

Primary Sources of Air Pollution

The deteriorating air quality is a multifaceted problem stemming from several sources, each linked to specific development challenges.

1. Vehicular and Industrial Emissions: Heavy traffic, particularly in Lahore and Faisalabad, combined with industrial operations, are primary contributors. This points to a critical need for progress on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Agricultural Practices: The burning of crop residue, a major issue around Multan, contributes significantly to seasonal smog. This practice is contrary to the principles of sustainable agriculture and production outlined in SDG 12.
3. Urban and Port Activities: Construction dust, urban congestion, and port activities are major pollution sources in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, impeding the goal of sustainable urbanization (SDG 11).
4. Transboundary Pollution: Smog from neighboring regions, including India, exacerbates local pollution levels, highlighting the necessity for international cooperation as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Prognosis and Requirements for Long-Term Improvement

Short-Term Outlook

Any immediate, short-term improvements in air quality are highly dependent on meteorological conditions. Favorable weather, such as wind and rain, can disperse pollutants. However, calm conditions and winter temperature inversions are expected to trap pollutants, prolonging severe smog episodes throughout the October-February season.

Long-Term Strategy for SDG Attainment

Lasting improvement is contingent on decisive policy action and the implementation of seasonal controls. Without a strategic, multi-sectoral approach, Pakistan will continue to face recurring pollution crises, hindering its ability to achieve fundamental SDGs. A sustainable path forward requires:

• Enforcing stricter emission standards for industries and vehicles to support SDG 11 and SDG 12.
• Investing in clean energy and sustainable public transportation systems to advance SDG 7 and SDG 11.
• Promoting sustainable agricultural techniques to eliminate crop burning, in line with SDG 12.
• Strengthening regional partnerships to address transboundary air pollution, fulfilling the mandate of SDG 17.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on air quality in Pakistan directly addresses and connects to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which repeatedly emphasizes the negative health impacts of air pollution. It states that the “unhealthy” to “hazardous” levels of air quality pose “serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly.” The advice for residents to limit outdoor activity and wear masks further underscores the direct threat to public health and well-being.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article’s focus is predominantly on the urban environment. It highlights that “major cities” are experiencing poor air quality, specifically naming Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan. The causes cited, such as “vehicular emissions,” “industrial operations,” “heavy traffic,” and “urban congestion,” are all issues related to the sustainability and environmental quality of cities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 3.9: Reduce deaths and illnesses from pollution

  This target aims to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article directly relates to this by describing the air quality as “unhealthy” and “hazardous,” with “dangerously high PM2.5 concentrations” that pose “serious health risks.” This establishes a clear link to the goal of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

  This target seeks to “reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.” The article’s entire premise is the poor air quality in Pakistan’s cities. It details how urban centers like Lahore and Karachi are ranked as some of the “most polluted major cit[ies] in the world,” directly addressing the need to manage and improve urban air quality as specified in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies specific indicators that are used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 11.6 (Indicator 11.6.2): Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities

  The article explicitly provides data for this indicator. It states, “Pakistan’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 was 73.7 µg/m³.” It also notes this level is “nearly 15 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.” The mention of Air Quality Index (AQI) readings, which are calculated based on pollutant concentrations like PM2.5, further serves as a direct measure for this indicator.

• Indicator for Target 3.9 (Indicator 3.9.1): Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

  While the article does not provide mortality statistics, it strongly implies the relevance of this indicator by highlighting the severe health consequences of the pollution. The description of air quality as posing “serious health risks” directly points to the illnesses and potential deaths that this indicator is designed to track. The high PM2.5 levels mentioned are the primary driver of the health outcomes measured by Indicator 3.9.1.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iqair.com