SMOG is no longer merely an environmental problem; it is a serious public-health and economic challenge for Pakistan. Smoke, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust and other pollutants create hazardous air, particularly during winter.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates health risks from air pollution. On commonly used scales, 0–50 is good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 unhealthy, 201–300 very unhealthy and above 300 hazardous. Air quality monitoring measures particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The 2025 World Air Quality Report recorded Pakistan’s annual average PM2.5 concentration at approximately 67.3 µg/m³, compared with the World Health Organization’s annual guideline of 5 µg/m³. Rawalpindi’s reported annual average was approximately 65.8 µg/m³. Annual averages differ from daily AQI readings and peak smog episodes.

What causes smog? Major contributors include poorly maintained vehicles, traffic congestion and........

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