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The Delhi government has also blamed stubble burning in Punjab for contributing to the worsening pollution in the national capital.
Punjab recorded its sharpest single-day spike in farm fires this season on Diwali, with 1,152 fresh stubble-burning incidents reported. (Image: News18 Media Gallery)
Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) crossed the 600 mark on November 8, prompting a senior minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province to blame pollution allegedly coming from Indian cities, including Bathinda, Amritsar and Ludhiana. The minister claimed that large-scale fireworks during Diwali celebrations across the border had contributed to the deterioration in air quality.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb alleged that polluted air from several Indian cities was entering Lahore through the eastern corridor, pushing up pollution levels in the Pakistani city.
“Polluted air coming from Indian cities—Bathinda, Jalandhar, Firozpur, Ludhiana, Khem Karan, Amritsar, Fazilka and Tarn Taran—through the eastern corridor had raised Lahore’s AQI,” she wrote on X.
Yesterday I explained that the air pollution in Lahore on November 8 increased due to the large-scale display of fireworks on the Diwali festival across the border. Polluted air coming from the Indian cities of Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Khemkaran, Amritsar, Fazlaka and Tarn Taran through the Eastern Corridor increased Lahore’s ‘AQI’. However, due to the hard work and vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the AQI is improving as the winds change direction due to strict control of pollution-increasing factors at the local level. In this regard, the preventive measures taken by the Punjab government also proved to be effective. This is the reason why AQI did not exceed the predicted level despite the air pollution spread on Diwali like last years. Alhamdulillah, the situation is expected to improve in the next two to three hours due to the change in wind direction and speed and sunshine. On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, all relevant departments are continuously active in the field. Elderly and children should not leave the house unnecessarily. Keep windows, lights and doors closed. Until the AQI comes down, children, elderly, pregnant women and people with heart, lung or respiratory diseases should stay indoors. Morning walks, jogging, cycling and all outdoor activities should be temporarily suspended. Keep windows and doors of houses, offices and other buildings closed so that polluted air does not enter. When traveling in a car, keep windows closed and the air conditioner in Recirculation Mode. Avoid burning garbage, leaves or other objects in the house and surroundings. Follow the guidelines issued by the EPA. Complete control of pollution at local level and safety of citizens is our mission.— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) November 9, 2026
Aurangzeb also credited Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to control local pollution sources, claiming that Lahore’s AQI was improving as soon as the wind changed direction.
The minister said the situation was expected to improve over the next two to three hours with changes in wind direction and speed, along with sunshine.
Health Advisory Issued Amid Rising Pollution
Aurangzeb advised residents, particularly children, older people, pregnant women and those with heart, lung or respiratory conditions, to remain indoors until air quality improves.
She also urged people to temporarily suspend outdoor activities such as morning walks, jogging and cycling. Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed at homes and workplaces to prevent polluted air from entering.
For those travelling in vehicles, she recommended keeping the windows shut and switching the air conditioner to recirculation mode. She also asked residents to avoid burning garbage, leaves or other materials in and around their homes.
Air Pollution In Delhi-NCR
Meanwhile, several cities across northern India, particularly Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), have been grappling with poor air quality over the past two weeks.
The Delhi government has blamed stubble burning in Punjab for contributing to the worsening pollution in the national capital.
Punjab recorded its sharpest single-day spike in farm fires this season on Diwali, with 1,152 fresh stubble-burning incidents reported. This took the state’s cumulative count to 4,459 on November 8, up from 3,307 on November 7, according to official data.
The numbers are significantly higher than last year’s Diwali, which fell on October 20, when Punjab recorded just 45 farm fires. However, the comparison comes with an important difference in the harvesting cycle. Only 32% of the total paddy-sown area had been harvested by October 20 last year, compared with nearly 92% by November 8 this year.
By November 8 last year, Punjab had recorded 3,622 farm fires. The total number of incidents for the entire 2025 season stood at 5,114 by November 30.
The annual farm fire monitoring period begins on September 15, around two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1, and continues until the end of November.
According to official data, Tarn Taran has reported the highest number of farm fires in Punjab this season, with 654 incidents.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Lahore’s AQI surpassed 600 on November 8, 2026, due to polluted air entering through the eastern corridor from several Indian cities, which officials attributed to large-scale fireworks during Diwali celebrations across the border, combined with local weather conditions.
Ask News18About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Deputy News Editor at News18.com, specialising in Indian politics and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking election strategies, he decodes domestic issues for mil…Read More
November 09, 2026, 11:10 PM IST
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