Islamabad

Pakistan has been ranked the most polluted country in 2025, with levels of fine particulate matter far exceeding global safety limits, according to a report by IQAir, cited by Dawn.

The study found that concentrations of PM2.5—microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs—were as much as 13 times higher than the guideline set by the World Health Organization.

Globally, only 13 countries and territories managed to keep average PM2.5 levels within the WHO’s recommended limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre in 2025, an improvement from seven in the previous year. However, the majority continued to fall short, with 130 out of 143 monitored regions failing to meet the standard.

The report ranked Bangladesh and Tajikistan as the second and third most polluted countries, respectively.

Air quality trends at the city level also showed deterioration. Only 14 per cent of cities worldwide met WHO guidelines in 2025, down from 17 per cent in 2024. Researchers attributed part of this decline to large-scale wildfires in Canada, which contributed to rising pollution levels across the United States and parts of Europe.

Some countries, including Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama, managed to remain within safe limits.

In contrast, several Southeast Asian nations—such as Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia—recorded notable improvements, largely due to favourable weather patterns linked to La Niña.

Meanwhile, Mongolia reported a significant 31 per cent drop in PM2.5 levels.

Overall, the report noted that while 75 countries saw improvements in air quality in 2025, pollution levels worsened in 54 others.

Separately, Pakistan was also ranked first in the Global Terrorism Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, reflecting a rise in terrorism-related fatalities.

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The report recorded 1,139 deaths and over 1,000 incidents in 2025, marking the highest level of terrorism-related fatalities in the country since 2013. It highlighted growing security concerns linked to strained regional relations and the activities of groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.