Air quality of smog-choked Lahore improves after yesterday’s artificial rain
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It appears that artificial rain that Lahore received yesterday has started producing the desired results as the city of gardens, which was ranked as the most polluted city in the world yesterday, stood on sixth position after its air quality index (AQI) improved to 182 on Sunday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The AQI over the Defence Housing Society (DHA) was recorded at 340 followed by Thokar Niaz Beg where it stood at 263.
Similarly, with AQI 247, Generation private limited was the third most polluted area of the Punjab capital.
Likewise, the AQI over The Mall, and the US consulate was recorded at 215 and 196, respectively.
The humidity level in the air in the city in the morning was 87 per cent while breeze was blowing at the speed of 5 kilometers per hour.
The Met Office, on the other hand, forecast dry weather for the provincial capital during the next 24 hours.
In the first experiment of its kind in the history of the country, parts of Lahore received artificial rain on Sunday on the instructions of Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi so that hazardous levels of smog could come down.
Planes, equipped with cloud-seeding equipment, were flown over 10 areas of the city, which are considered to be one of the worst places globally for air pollution.
Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the “gift” was provided by the United Arab Emirates.
“Celebrating a groundbreaking moment in Lahore — the first-ever artificial rainfall to combat smog! Heartfelt thanks to the UAE government for their support, making our environment a priority without straining the provincial exchequer,” he said in a post on social media platform X.
Fog prompts closure of motorways
Different sections of the motorway had to be closed after dense fog again engulfed large parts of plains in Punjab on Sunday morning, thus reducing visibility to almost nil in some areas, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Sections of the motorway from Lahore to Kot Momin, Faizpur to Rajana, Lahore to Sialkot, Pir Abdul Hakim to Pindi Bhattian and Sher Shah to Guddu were closed. Reporter: Fatima Khan