Lahore Braces for ‘Fifth Season’ of Toxic Smog as Winter Looms

October 10, 2025 – Lahore, Pakistan – As cooler weather approaches, Lahore residents are preparing for the city’s infamous “fifth season”—a blanket of hazardous smog fueled by crop burning, traffic emissions, and stagnant air trapped by the Himalayas. Air quality indices already hit 300 AQI, far exceeding WHO safe limits, linking to thousands of respiratory cases annually.

Climate experts tie the haze to broader warming trends that prolong inversion layers, worsening pollution. “Without emission controls and green zoning, Lahore’s health crisis will deepen,” warned local activists. Authorities plan stubble-burning bans, but enforcement remains spotty amid farmer protests.