In a recent report published on Tuesday, it was revealed that Pakistan maintained its position as one of the world’s three smoggiest countries in 2023. This data, published by IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring organization, showed that particulate matter levels in Pakistan were about 15 times higher than the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The average concentration of PM2.5—tiny airborne particles known to be harmful to lungs—was recorded at 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter in Pakistan for the year 2023. Meanwhile, neighboring Bangladesh saw even higher levels, reaching 79.9 micrograms per cubic meter, both significantly surpassing the WHO’s recommended limit of 5 micrograms.
Christi Chester Schroeder, the air quality science manager at IQAir, attributed these alarming levels to a combination of climate conditions, geography, agricultural practices, industry, and population density in South Asia. She expressed concern, stating, “Unfortunately, it really does look like it will get worse before it gets better.”
The report highlighted that in 2022, Bangladesh was ranked fifth for poor air quality, while India was in the eighth position. However, in 2023, India’s pollution levels surged, with PM2.5 levels around 11 times higher than the WHO standard. The capital city of India, New Delhi, was noted as the worst-performing capital with PM2.5 levels reaching 92.7 micrograms.
Adding to the global concern, China also experienced an increase in PM2.5 levels by 6.3 percent, reaching 32.5 micrograms in 2023 after five consecutive annual declines.
The WHO-recommended standards were met only by a handful of countries in 2023, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand.
The report from IQAir was based on data from over 30,000 monitoring stations across 134 countries and regions. It also mentioned that Chad, previously the most polluted country in 2022, was excluded from the 2023 listings due to data issues. Iran and Sudan were also not listed for 2023.
Christa Hasenkopf, the director of the Air Quality Life Index at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, highlighted that 39 percent of countries lack public air quality monitoring. She emphasized the need for a global effort to close these data gaps, especially in areas where the health burden of air pollution is most severe.
The data underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to tackle air pollution in these regions and globally to safeguard public health and the environment.
