Karachi weather alert: Air quality becomes 'unhealthy' amid persisting cool weather
Mazar-e-Quaid is enveloped in haze as smog-like conditions prevailed in the city. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
Karachi has been under the influence of cool northeast winds for the second consecutive day, with winds recorded at 15 kilometres per hour, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
The city's temperature reached a low of 20.8°C, providing some respite from the usual heat.
However, the fog that blanketed the city in the morning reduced visibility to just 3 kilometres, causing disruptions in outdoor activities and transport.
Karachi has recorded the worst air quality index (AQI) in Pakistan with a hazardous rating of 183, making it the third most polluted city in the world as of today, according to international monitoring sources.
Global air quality monitoring systems place Karachi behind only Dhaka and Cairo, which have also recorded extremely high pollution levels in recent days with AQI 259 and 236 respectively.
"We expect the winds to continue at a moderate pace, bringing a noticeable drop in temperature and increased chill," said a spokesperson for the Early Warning Centre.
As the city wakes up to the effects of the weather, officials have issued advisories for the public to take necessary precautions against reduced visibility in the morning and potential disruptions to transport.
The cool winds, originating from the northeast regions of Balochistan, have been a welcome change from Karachi's usually warmer climate at this time of year.
The department has indicated that the current conditions are expected to persist, with the temperatures remaining on the cooler side throughout the day.