Lahore (Pakistan) has topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 242 (very unhealthy) on Sunday evening.

According to data from the IQ Air website, Dhaka (Bangladesh) ranked second with an AQI of 230 (very unhealthy), followed by Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) at 206 (very unhealthy).

The cities ranked fourth to tenth also fall under the “unhealthy” category for air quality. Beijing (China) is in fourth place with an AQI of 180 (unhealthy), followed closely by Delhi (India) and Hanoi (Vietnam) with an AQI of 174 (unhealthy). Mumbai (India) ranks seventh with an AQI of 169 (unhealthy), followed by Kolkata (India) at 161 (unhealthy).

Tehran (Iran) holds the ninth spot, while Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) is in tenth with an AQI of 158 and 151 (unhealthy), respectively.

After enduring a month of toxic smog, the air quality in Lahore and most parts of Punjab significantly improved last week, thanks to changes in wind patterns and rainfall in northern regions.

This improvement allowed the Punjab government to resume in-person school classes and outdoor activities as usual.

However, air quality has begun to deteriorate once again due to emissions from both mobile and stationary sources and stable atmospheric conditions. Health experts have urged the public to take necessary precautions to avoid health risks associated with smog.