Air pollution levels skyrocket over the weekend in Pakistan's Lahore: Video

According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the air quality index (AQI) soared to 1,067, a level more than 80 times above the World Health Organisation's (WHO) acceptable limit.

The primary culprit behind this alarming rise is the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses severe health risks. These pollutants peaked at 1,067, far exceeding the WHO's threshold of 10 for unhealthy air quality.

The city's residents have been struggling with a thick blanket of smog, a hazardous mix of fog and pollutants from low-grade diesel fumes, agricultural burning, and winter cooling effects for several days.

According to Shahzad, a resident who spoke to AFP, it is very difficult to navigate the streets with a motorbike aside from other health issues.

"Our chests feel tight and we have difficulty breathing. When we are riding our bikes, our eyes feel like they are burning. If this continues it will take years off the lives of the people of Lahore," he explained. "Most of the factories pollute the environment -- this is the main cause of the smog, the government should make a plan for it, so the smog can be controlled."

In response to the crisis, Lahore's provincial environmental protection agency has implemented several emergency measures. These include banning tuk-tuks (rickshaws) with polluting two-stroke engines, restricting construction activities, and closing street and food vendors by 8 pm, local time.

Additionally, government offices and private companies have been instructed to have half their staff work from home starting Monday, November 4.

Smog is especially severe in winter, as cold, dense air traps emissions from low-quality fuels used by the city's vehicles and factories at ground level.