Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:44pm on 21 Oct 2025,Tuesday India Global
Diwali fireworks triggered cross-border pollution crisis as toxic air drifted from India into Pakistan's Punjab province. Lahore's AQI surged to 266 Tuesday morning, becoming the world's second-most polluted city after New Delhi. Pakistan's Environment Protection Department blamed low wind speeds carrying pollutants from Delhi and northern Indian cities. Maryam Nawaz's provincial government deployed anti-smog guns, water sprinkling operations, and smog response squads across nine departments. Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb warned winds from Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Haryana would worsen conditions. Lahore police arrested 83 individuals for emissions violations. PM2.5 concentrations reached 187 μg/m³, 37 times WHO limits. Delhi's PM2.5 exceeded 248 μg/m³ despite green cracker mandates, creating lingering transboundary haze affecting multiple Pakistani cities.
