Okara, Gujranwala lead Punjab crop-fire surge in October
Nasa satellite data analysed by HamariHawa show 13,241 fire spots in Pakistan's Punjab from Oct 1–29, mostly on farmland, as Lahore faces worsening smog.
Nasa FIRMS satellites detected 13,241 fire spots in Pakistan's Punjab from Oct 1–29, versus 3,158 in Indian Punjab — 4.2 times as many.
About 92% of Pakistan Punjab detections were on farmland and likely linked to crop burning; 6,655 came in the last seven days of October.
Oct 29 was the busiest day, with 1,327 fire spots in Pakistan's Punjab.
Okara (2,144), Gujranwala (1,011) and Nankana Sahib (1,003) led the rice belt around Lahore.
Indian Punjab cut detections by 95% between 2021 and 2025, while Pakistan's Punjab rose 33% from 2019 to 2025.