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Our founder @abido spoke at #TEDxLahore on our global air pollution problem on 29 July 2018.
@TEDtalks @TEDx @TEDxLahore #TEDxLahore #TEDx #TEDtalks
#Smog #AirPollution #AirQuality #BreatheLife
youtu.be/JP-jedfj4Pc – at Karachi, Pakistan
PAQI is at the 2026 Climate and Clean Air Coalition Annual Meeting in Bangkok with one central question: how do we bring meaningful action on super pollutants to Pakistan? @CCACoalition
One important focus is black carbon. 🧵
Air pollution is a national emergency, but many solutions are already within reach.
The challenge is to turn evidence into locally relevant action—and action into measurable reductions.
Read our national landscape report:
zenodo.org/records/17629179
This is especially important in Pakistan’s mountain regions, where deposited black carbon can accelerate the melting of snow and ice.
An inventory is a starting point, not the final answer.
We must connect emissions estimates with ambient measurements and atmospheric modelling to determine which sources affect which communities—and which interventions can deliver measurable reductions.
Pakistan is not starting from zero.
PAQI’s nationwide, district-level inventory estimates that covered sources emitted 61.88 kilotonnes of black carbon in 2023–24—5.9% above 2015–16.
Black carbon is produced by incomplete combustion—from sources including diesel engines, brick kilns, industry, household fuels, and crop and waste burning.
Reducing these emissions can improve air quality while delivering near-term climate benefits.
@LahoreSmog
Solving air pollution requires three things:
1️⃣ Identifying the sources.
2️⃣ Weighing the cost-benefit of mitigation actions.
3️⃣ Evidence-based policy implementation.
🚗 Live Now: The Alpha Release (Transportation) We are starting with the largest polluting sector. Because this crisis is too urgent to wait behind closed doors, our early-stage prototype is live. We are currently verifying the data, Emission Factors, and VKTs, but this baseline is here to start a conversation.
Take a look at your district's transport footprint. What stands out to you? Let us know your thoughts.
🔗 Explore and download the data from our Alpha prototype here: emissions.web.app/
Stay tuned for more from the PAQI team.
🚨 Pakistan has officially been ranked the most polluted country on Earth.
With Faisalabad (98.8 µg/m³), Rahim Yar Khan (92.6 µg/m³), and Lahore (88.9 µg/m³) leading the crisis, 4 of the world's top 10 most polluted cities are right here.
But how do we fix it? Read our latest article on why we must move from panic to data-driven policy.
🚨 PAQI Update: Nov 2025 Smog Analysis
Data confirms a major relief: Lahore avoided the "Hazardous" emergency of last November.
✅ Peak Intensity
📉 56%: Max daily spike dropped to 237 µg/m³ (vs. 539 last year).
We saw zero days above 300 AQI.
✅ Baseline
📉 37%: Monthly average pollution lowered to 181 µg/m³.
⚠️ The Verdict: The reduction of peak episodes is likely due to favorable meteorology. However, air quality remained "Very Unhealthy" and exceeded PEQS limits every single day.
Inaugurating the first Clean Air Summit in Pakistan, @Marriyum_A speaks about the importance of political will, under the leadership of Chief Minister @MaryamNSharif for a smog-less Punjab.
PAQI’s inaugural Clean Air Summit starts tomorrow! Please join us in Lahore, as we move beyond data and sources, and towards solutions.
PakistanAirQuality retweeted
What’s going into your lungs, #Lahore?
An installation has been set up in a University in the city (i.e. lots of green space, away from traffic, construction, etc). One side has a working fan inside to depict physical breathing inside our bodies. #SaansLenayDo
1st image (Nov 6th) 2nd image (Nov 10th)
PakistanAirQuality retweeted
What’s in store for this year’s post-monsoon stubble burning season in NW India?
📈 Historical satellite record (2002–2021) suggests ~15,000 fire counts (via MODIS).
Predictions missed the mark in 2022–2024 due to shift in peak fires 🔥 to late afternoon, dodging satellite eyes
Let Us Breathe / Saans Lenay Do!
Today, we launched our Lungs Billboard at UMT University in Lahore, an artificial lung that breathes the same air you do. Watch the lungs turn black from Lahore's air pollution.
Is this the air we want to breathe?
🫁 Join us at the *Clean Air Summit on 28–29 November in Lahore* to discuss solutions to Pakistan's Air Pollution Problem -- hosted by Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) and UMT University.
@icareforlungs
The Pakistan Air Quality Experts (#PAQx) group met together for a Pre-launch consultation on PAQI’s upcoming ‘Pakistan’s Air Pollution Landscape’ report. The report is set to be launched in the coming month.
A factual look at Lahore's air quality as we enter smog season 2025
This chart compares 2025 (red) vs. 2024 (black) PM2.5 levels. After a cleaner start to the year, PM2.5 levels in October 2025 have risen to be comparable to those from October 2024.
This means we are entering November, the highest-risk month, with the same high pollution baseline that preceded last year's severe smog event.
This high baseline, combined with specific meteorological factors, is what creates a high-risk scenario for severe smog episodes.
Source: Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) #SmogSeason #Pakistan
