Aerosol optical and radiative properties during summer and winter seasons over Lahore and Karachi

► For the first time aerosol optical properties have analyzed in two cities of Pakistan. ► AAE vs. EAE provide an indication of urban-industrial and mineral dust aerosols. ► SSA and RI values suggest that anthropogenic aerosols are dominated at Lahore than at Karachi. ► Large differences between surface and TOA forcing reveal significant heating in the atmosphere. ► The AERONET-SBDART correlation coefficients are 0.99 for Lahore and 0.98 for Karachi.