Worst air pollution Islamabad, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Islamabad is very poor. AQI, NO2, and O3 are very poor; PM10 is fair; PM2.5, SO2, and PM1 are medium; CO and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 82.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Islamabad is poor. AQI improves to poor; NO2 decreases to poor; O3 decreases to poor; SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 77.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Islamabad's air quality reflects the flat Pakistani Margalla Hills southern foothills at 507 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the government, construction, and vehicle density corridor generating elevated PM2.5. The dry winter northeast monsoon concentrates emissions extensively, while the flat alluvial terrain adjacent to the Margalla Hills and the shared airshed with Rawalpindi maintain Islamabad among Pakistan's more challenged Indus Plains capital city environments throughout the dry season.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Very poor
82.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
43.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
22.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
82.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Very poor
81.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
40.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Poor
77.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
42.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
77.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
75.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
30.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
12.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.2/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Islamabad right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Islamabad is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 82.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 82.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Islamabad?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Islamabad will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 77.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 77.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Islamabad?
Pollution in Islamabad typically rises when vehicle traffic together with construction dust combine, especially once the drier season sets in. Rainfall through the monsoon usually keeps levels in check. Air quality typically improves markedly once the rains arrive.
Are air quality levels in Islamabad based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app