Breathing in Balochistan is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 11.4 million people across 35 districts in Balochistan. The average PM2.5 level is 22.5 µg/m³—4.5× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Balochistan

Balochistan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 11.4 million across 35 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 22.5µg/m³. That's 4.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 373 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Balochistan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.71 years longer.

That's 19.6M years of life stolen from 11.4 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Balochistan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Jaffarabad
    3.2 years lost
  • 2.Sohbatpur
    3 years lost
  • 3.Nasirabad
    2.7 years lost
  • 4.Jhal Magsi
    2.6 years lost
  • 5.Kachhi
    2.3 years lost
  • 6.Lehri
    2.2 years lost
  • 7.Sibi
    2.2 years lost
  • 8.Dera Bugti
    2.2 years lost
  • 9.Sherani
    2 years lost
  • 10.Kharan
    2 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
85.6%
9.8M
25-35 µg/m³
10.7%
1.2M
> 35 µg/m³
3.6%
417K
Districts

All 35 Districts in Balochistan

Complete air quality data for every district in Balochistan, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Quetta2.2M
22.2
1.7 years
Pishin748K
20.5
1.5 years
Chaman701K
21.7
1.6 years
Kech598K
19.5
1.4 years
Khuzdar575K
19.6
1.4 years
Lasbela570K
22.4
1.7 years
Chagai442K
18.8
1.4 years
Killa Saifullah392K
19.6
1.4 years
Mastung366K
20.3
1.5 years
Zhob325K
22.1
1.7 years
Killa Abdullah318K
21.7
1.6 years
Jaffarabad308K
37.2
3.2 years
Gwadar280K
19.3
1.4 years
Loralai272K
22.8
1.7 years
Panjgur253K
21.6
1.6 years
Nushki251K
21.8
1.6 years
Nasirabad244K
32.6
2.7 years
Kharan239K
25.2
2.0 years
Kalat226K
20.3
1.5 years
Duki192K
22.2
1.7 years
Awaran184K
17.8
1.3 years
Barkhan181K
24.9
1.9 years
Kachhi178K
28.0
2.3 years
Sibi175K
27.9
2.2 years
Shaheed Sikandarabad166K
21.5
1.6 years
Ziarat141K
20.4
1.5 years
Dera Bugti131K
27.8
2.2 years
Washuk118K
23.2
1.8 years
Sohbatpur109K
35.2
3.0 years
Jhal Magsi104K
31.9
2.6 years
Harnai98K
20.5
1.5 years
Musakhel96K
24.0
1.9 years
Sherani79K
25.6
2.0 years
Lehri77K
27.9
2.2 years
Kohlu70K
23.7
1.8 years

Showing 35 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.