Lahore's Poor Air Quality Points to Pakistan's Bigger Pollution Problem

Corn sellers push their hand-carts in Lahore, Pakistan, Nov. 8, 2023, as smog hangs over city. A cyclist wears a mask to protect himself against smog as he heads to work in Lahore, Pakistan, Nov. 8, 2023.

Growing up in Lahore — Pakistan’s cultural capital — fall used to be the perfect time for Mariam to enjoy outdoor activities after months of scorching summer heat. Now, she cannot imagine the same for her young daughters as Lahore’s air, ranked the most polluted globally, becomes unusually toxic in cooler months.