Artificial rain attempted

The Punjab government attempted an experiment of artificial rain in Lahore and adjoining parts of Sheikhupura on Friday. The outcome of the attempt was awaited till the night.

Cloud seeding for the artificial rain was done with the approval of a committee formed to oversee the initiative. However, the smog situation in the province remains alarming and the Punjab government is likely to shut the universities from Monday. The level of air pollution remained hazardous in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Rawalpindi and other big districts with hospital administrations struggling to cope with the load of patients.

The provincial government did its first independent attempt of artificial rain in Lahore and adjoining localities off Sheikhupura where presence of clouds after Friday afternoon was considered suitable for the process.

"Clouds seeding was done with the approval of experts and the relevant committee's members who included university professors. The committee members recommended the cloud seeding after experts waited for two weeks for a suitable cloud situation in Lahore," said an official of the environment protection department.

However, he said, the experiment had been done silently and the experts were waiting for the results till the night.

He said less clouds and low humidity at their height

had caused concern but the experts hoped that rainfall might take place during the night in some parts of Lahore and Sheikhupura.

A similar attempt had been made last week in Rawalpindi but wind had swept the clouds towards Kashmir, where rain had taken place, the official said.

However, a spokesman for the environment department voided commenting on the matter.

The first experiment of artificial rain in Lahore had been done last year with help of experts from the United Arab Emirates.

This year, the Punjab government has planned to try to induce rain on its own. A committee had been formed for the purpose two months back and the cloud seeding was done on its recommendation.

Meanwhile, the worst spell of smog in major cities of Punjab forced the government to suspend classes in the universities. Sources said the institutions could be advised to begin online classes. The holidays in schools and colleges will also be extended due to persisting air pollution.