Two cities, one smog crisis

This winter has revealed a clear difference between two cities that usually share the same smog season. Lahore and New Delhi sit in the same region and face similar weather, yet the air above them has told two very different stories. Delhi has continued to struggle with some of its worst pollution in recent years, while Lahore has shown a modest but noticeable improvement. Since both cities deal with the same seasonal pressures, the contrast suggests that policy choices and governance have played a direct role in shaping these outcomes.

Lahore has long been known as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Every year, as winter approaches, its residents brace for heavy haze, breathing difficulties and reduced visibility. Early this season, the situation seemed no different. Reports showed an Air Quality Index touching levels around 297 in October, and PM2.5 readings many times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization. As November progressed, however, the air in Lahore began to shift. Figures, published by local media, indicated that the average AQI for November dropped to nearly half of what it had been during the same month of the previous year. Several days still remained unhealthy, but the city saw far fewer days in the hazardous zone, offering a level of relief that many had not experienced in years.

This improvement did not happen by chance. The Punjab government strengthened its work on smog control far more seriously than in the past. Under the Punjab Clean Air Program, dozens of new air quality monitoring stations were established across the province, giving a clearer picture of real time pollution. Inspections at industrial units were increased, and many plants that violated emission rules were sealed. Brick kilns using outdated methods were closed or corrected. In the agriculture sector, thousands of farmers received modern equipment such as super seeders and other residue management tools to help prevent stubble burning. News reports also highlighted a significant rise in mechanized harvesting across Punjab, which reduced the need to burn crop waste. On the transport side, smoke emitting vehicles were fined, route permits were cancelled for those that failed inspection, and heavy traffic was restricted on critical days. These measures did not eliminate the problem, but together they created enough pressure to reduce some of the worst pollution spikes.

Lahore’s air did not suddenly turn clean, yet many residents felt that the city looked and breathed slightly better than in previous years. The progress demonstrated that steady enforcement and continuous effort can make a visible difference, even when dealing with a deeply rooted environmental challenge.

The situation in New Delhi moved in a very different direction. By late November, Delhi recorded AQI values above four hundred, and several monitoring stations placed the air in the severe category. The Times of India reported that these readings triggered school closures, health advisories and a series of emergency restrictions. Despite these steps, the air remained heavy and dangerous. Most of the measures taken in Delhi were short term and reactive. They aimed to soften the impact rather than prevent the crisis from developing in the first place.

The contrast between the two cities offers an important lesson. For many years, public debate in Pakistan frequently claimed that a large share of Lahore’s smog drifted from across the border. While cross-border factors cannot be dismissed completely, this season has shown that the choices made within one’s own boundaries matter far more than the assumptions people often rely on. If two cities facing similar climate conditions experience such different results, then governance and preparation must be responsible for a significant share of that difference.

For Punjab, this experience carries a hopeful message. If a problem as complex as winter smog can show improvement within a single season, then other public issues can also be addressed with the same seriousness. Clean drinking water, waste collection, better transport and improved public services do not require global agreements. They require early planning, accountability and consistent action.

At the same time, realistic expectations are necessary. Lahore still has high pollution levels by global standards, and the improvement seen this season will not last unless long-term planning continues. Smog control cannot be limited to a few months of the year. It must cover industry, transport, agriculture, energy and urban planning throughout the year. Any pause or weakening in enforcement can quickly reverse the progress.

Even so, the change felt this winter gives Lahore a sense of direction. It shows that determined action, backed by real policy and practical effort, can bring visible relief to millions of people. Delhi’s struggle and Lahore’s partial improvement underline a simple truth. When steps are taken early and followed with discipline, the results appear in the air people breathe. When action is delayed or fragmented, every citizen carries the cost.

Lahore’s experience this year does not solve the smog problem forever, but it does open the door to new possibilities. It suggests that even stubborn challenges can improve when a government treats public health and environmental responsibility as real priorities. Cleaner air, if maintained, can become the foundation for broader reforms and a better quality of life for the people of Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025