‘Rain to help reduce pollen concentration’

The ongoing rain spells would be beneficial for reducing the pollen count in the capital’s air as well as for crops, said Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) spokesperson Dr. Khalid Malik on Friday.

A day ago, the PMD had issued an alert for allergy patients to remain extra careful as the pollen count in twin cities reached 47,695 microgrammes per cubic metre. “It [pollen count] will further increase in the coming days as the months of March and April are considered to be the peak season of pollen concentration,” Dr Malik said.

He advised that people suffering from the allergy should take all precautionary measures to avoid any health-related complications.

The official further said there was a direct relationship between climate and the agriculture sector, however, when rainfall patterns change, it affects the cropping patterns directly.

He said as a result of the depletion of the ozone layer, there will be more heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, which, according to climate models, will shift rainfall and precipitation patterns in two major ways.

“Rainfall is the major factor in the growth and production of food crops both at the germination and fruit development stage,” he added.