Nov 16, Kathmandu - Pakistan's capital Lahore on Saturday became the world's second most polluted city with an air quality index (AQI) of 396, ARY News reported.

Citing reports, ARY News said air quality in various parts of Punjab province has reached extremely hazardous levels.

Faisalabad has emerged as the most polluted city in Pakistan with an AQI of 571, while Gujranwala is in second place with a particulate matter level of 570. Similarly, Lahore has recorded an AQI of 396 and Multan has recorded 257.

Punjab has been facing persistent air pollution and dense smog since the onset of winter last year. Despite continuous efforts by authorities to control the smog, the air quality has deteriorated to hazardous levels, creating a serious public health challenge, the news report said.

For days, Lahore was blanketed in a thick haze of smog, fueled by low-quality diesel fumes, cold weather and seasonal agricultural burning. At one point, air pollution in Lahore was 80 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels.

To protect the public from the effects of toxic air, increasing health risks, and severe pollution, the provincial government has closed schools and restricted the hours of restaurants, markets, and other business establishments, ARY News reported.

Earlier, Dawn reported that several other urban centers had also registered AQI levels above 300, with authorities urging residents to minimize outdoor activity, keep windows and doors closed, wear masks when going out, and use air purifiers indoors.

Human Rights Watch, in a report informing citizens, said that air pollution in Lahore has been worsening for years due to the destruction of green areas, the expansion of concrete structures on agricultural land, the practice of crop burning, and the lack of a viable public transportation system.

The report states that the excessive use of fossil fuels for transportation, heating, waste incineration, power generation, and other industrial activities is the main reason for the increase in air pollution.