Pakistan's Own Agency Busts Its 'Diwali Firework' Pollution Theory As AQI Crosses 600

As the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore crossed 600 this week, Pakistan was quick to blame firecrackers burst during Diwali celebrations in India for poor air quality and a thick blanket of toxic smog.

However, now its own air quality monitoring agency has raised questions over the propagandist narrative, noting there was no conclusive link between the fireworks and the post-Diwali pollution spike in Pakistan.A report by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) noted that satellite data has detected 16,714 likely crop-residue fires in Pakistan's Punjab between October 1 and November 9, while Lahore's average PM2.5 concentration was eight times the World Health Organisation's (WHO) guideline value.It noted that approximately 89 per cent of pollution in Lahore and other areas of Punjab province in neighbouring Pakistan was likely due to crop-residue burning, according to a Dawn report.Lahore was ranked the world's most polluted major city this week as its AQI reached 590, according to Swiss group IQAir.