Cross-Border Pollution from India Worsens Smog Across Lahore and Upper Punjab
Satellite data and a new report point to crop residue burning in Indian Punjab and Haryana as a major factor driving hazardous winter air quality in Pakistani border districts.
Air pollution originating in India is aggravating smog conditions across Lahore, upper Punjab and several border districts of Pakistan, according to a report by Kashmir Media Service. The report says smoke from crop residue burning in the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana drifts across the border and contributes to hazardous air quality, particularly during the winter months.
Satellite monitoring has documented the scale of the problem on the Indian side. NASA's MODIS and VIIRS sensors, together with the European Space Agency's Sentinel satellites, have detected a persistent layer of pollution over India. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research recorded 3,316 incidents of crop residue burning across seven Indian states between September 15 and November 1, 2026, according to the report.
Stubble burning is identified as a leading driver of seasonal air pollution in the region. Because of their geographical proximity, agricultural fires in Indian Punjab and Haryana send smoke into Pakistani border areas, affecting the Air Quality Index in Punjab. During winter, thick layers of smoke and fog routinely blanket the Indo-Gangetic Plains, covering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Environmental experts cited in the report criticized India for its reluctance to pursue a coordinated regional response to cross-border air pollution, despite being described as the region's largest contributor. They also pointed to industrial emissions, which combine with seasonal crop burning to sustain year-round pollution in India and raise concerns about its effects on neighboring countries.
The findings add pressure on policymakers in Pakistan, where winter smog already disrupts daily life, closes schools and increases respiratory illness. The report underscores the need for regional cooperation on air quality monitoring and emissions control, as pollution does not respect national borders.
For Pakistani residents in Lahore and surrounding districts, the cross-border component means local efforts alone may not be enough to bring air quality within safe limits during the winter smog season. Experts cited in the report argue that without coordinated action across the region, seasonal pollution episodes are likely to persist.
