Pakistan has emerged as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a recent report released by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, highlighting a worsening environmental crisis and raising concerns over public health in the region. The report points to alarmingly high concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks.
The findings show that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 levels were recorded at nearly 13 times higher than the safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has set an annual guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Such elevated pollution levels place millions of people at risk of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and other long-term health complications.
The report underscores that Pakistan’s deteriorating air quality is part of a broader environmental challenge driven by rapid urbanisation, increasing vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and population growth. Major cities in the country, including Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar, have consistently recorded hazardous air quality levels in recent years, with smog episodes becoming more frequent and severe.
Globally, the report also indicates a slight improvement in air quality standards, with 13 countries and territories managing to meet the WHO’s recommended PM2.5 levels in 2025, compared to only seven in the previous year. However, this progress remains limited, as the majority of countries continue to record pollution levels well above safe thresholds, reflecting persistent gaps in environmental regulation and monitoring.
Pakistan’s rise to the top of the pollution rankings marks a significant shift from previous years. In earlier reports, countries such as Chad and Bangladesh were often identified as the most polluted, with Pakistan ranking among the top three. The latest data signals a worsening trend for the country, even as some regions globally show marginal improvement in air quality.
Environmental experts have long warned that there is no safe level of PM2.5 exposure, as these particles can enter the bloodstream and damage vital organs. The growing pollution crisis has also been linked to climate change, with rising temperatures, changing wind patterns, and increased frequency of wildfires contributing to the spread and persistence of smog.
The situation has sparked renewed calls for stronger policy interventions, including stricter emission controls, a transition to cleaner energy sources, improved public transport systems, and better monitoring infrastructure. Without urgent and sustained action, experts caution that air pollution could continue to pose one of the most serious threats to public health and economic stability in Pakistan and across South Asia.
The report ultimately paints a stark picture: while parts of the world are making incremental progress, countries like Pakistan are facing an escalating environmental emergency that demands immediate attention and coordinated global and national responses.
