The latest world air quality rankings have placed Lahore again at the top as the most polluted city in the world, with Karachi being ranked fourth.

Environmental monitoring agencies have rated Lahore's air as "severely hazardous" for human health. The city measured a shocking PM2.5 reading of 251 micrograms per cubic meter, well above the World Health Organization's safety guidelines.

Experts warn that these high levels of air pollution can cause acute respiratory issues, allergies, and long-term ailments, especially in children, the elderly, and the vulnerable with existing health conditions.

At the same time, Karachi—Pakistan's economic capital and largest city—has also experienced a drastic deterioration in air quality. The city's level of PM2.5 stands at 195 micrograms per cubic meter, making it one of the top five most polluted cities in the world.

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On the global pollution scale, Delhi stands as the second most polluted city, ahead of Baghdad in third position. Lahore, Delhi, and Baghdad combined are experiencing severe air quality conditions that underscore the intensifying environmental and public health crisis across South Asia and the Middle East.