Smog chokes Lahore, nearby cities

Rain forecast raises hope of improvement

LAHORE:

Most major cities of Punjab were engulfed by smog on Monday with the air quality deteriorating to a hazardous level.

Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Kasur recorded the worst air quality quality levels.

According to the international monitoring agency IQAir, Gujranwala's AQI climbed as high as 762, among the highest in the region.

However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted chances of rainfall in the provincial capital on Tuesday, which could bring a significant reduction in smog.

Data from the Punjab Environmental Protection Department showed that Lahore's Air Quality Index reached 770 at Civil Secretariat, 718 at Sanda Road and 714 at Bedian Road. Several other locations, including Burki Road, Shahdara, Kahna, Multan Road, GT Road, Wagah and Egerton Road also reported high AQI readings. Comparatively, DHA Phase 6 recorded 369, Safari Park 357, and Punjab University 355.

According to the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the intensity of smog in Lahore rose sharply after 4am. The department's monitoring and forecasting system indicated that wind blowing from the east and southeast carried smoke and particulate matter from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur districts toward Lahore, Kasur, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Multan.

Experts warned that the inflow was likely to worsen the pollution levels across central Punjab. Slow wind speed in early morning caused pollutants to remain trapped near the ground.

Meteorologists attribute the persistent smog to a temperature inversion layer, where cooler air remains trapped near the surface, preventing pollutants from dispersing.

The health department advised citizens, especially children, the elderly and those suffering from respiratory or cardiac illnesses to avoid outdoor exposure between midnight and noon, and again after 7pm.