Lahore once again faced hazardous air pollution on Tuesday, with the city recording an Air Quality Index of 263 and ranking as the world’s most polluted major city.

Punjab’s Environment Protection Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb attributed part of the pollution to smoke drifting from India following Diwali fireworks. Experts and environmental reports also point to vehicle emissions, construction dust and crop-residue burning as contributing factors to winter smog across the region. Reuters

The deteriorating air quality has raised renewed concerns about public health and the need for stronger measures to control pollution sources.