Foreign firm to help induce rain

LAHORE:

In a bid to combat the alarming levels of air pollution and smog that have plagued Lahore, the Punjab government has established a working group to spearhead the implementation of an artificial rain project in the city.

Environmental experts revealed during a meeting on Monday that the first trial of cloud seeding, utilising aircraft and a chemical process, is anticipated to commence within the next four to six weeks.

The Punjab chief secretary presided over the meeting held to review the progress of the artificial rain project and the installation of smog reduction towers in the city. Officials from the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) gave a detailed presentation on cloud seeding and ionisation, the two primary techniques employed to induce artificial rain. The environmental experts emphasised that the success of artificial rain heavily relies on favourable weather conditions and optimal cloud formation.

The EPD is currently in the final stages of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Dubai-based company specialising in cloud ionisation.

During the upcoming weeks, cloud ionisation will be tested at designated locations across Lahore using five systems provided by the company.

Additionally, a team of environmental experts is scheduled to visit China next month to explore the procurement and installation of smog reduction towers.

The EPD has also initiated the process of establishing a dedicated smog monitoring cell.

The chief secretary underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to curb environmental pollution and commended the coordination among various government agencies in addressing the smog issue.

The meeting concluded with the decision to form the working group comprising representatives from federal and provincial departments, research institutions, and experts to oversee the implementation of the artificial rain project.

Meanwhile, Lahore remained the most polluted city in the world on Monday, with an average US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 311.

This is more than 50 times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.

Read: Artificial rain in Lahore on cards

The latest air pollution ranking shows that Lahore's air quality is the worst among the most polluted cities in the world. The other cities in the top 10 are New Delhi, Karachi, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hanoi in Vietnam, Dhaka, Wuhan in China, Kuwait, Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Yangon in Myanmar.

Data from the EPD shows that the highest level of pollution in Lahore was observed near the Town Hall, with an AQI rating of 299. This was followed by Lahore College of Women University (AQI 297) and Punjab University College of Earth and Environmental Science (AQI 250).

However, private air quality monitors showed that the highest level of pollution was recorded in the surroundings of Polo Ground with an AQI reading of 423.

According to experts, PM2.5 is the main culprit behind Lahore's severe air pollution. PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter that has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, which is about three per cent the diameter of a human hair. The particles are so small that they can only be detected with an electron microscope.

Such particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs and even enter the circulatory system. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to a number of health problems, including premature death from heart and lung disease, asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems.

The particles can come from a variety of sources, including vehicle and industrial emissions, and burning biomass such as wood and crop residue.

Health experts suggest people can protect themselves from PM2.5 exposure by avoiding outdoor activities, wearing a facemask when outdoors and air purifying their homes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2023.