Smog persists in metropolis

Hazardous air quality recorded at Wagah border

LAHORE:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recorded unhealthy air quality at several monitoring stations across the provincial capital, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted predominantly dry weather that could prolong the pollution.

The EPA monitoring data on Saturday evening showed variation in air quality across Lahore. Wagah border recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 500, classified as hazardous, while Barki Road reported 288, in the unhealthy category.

Other monitoring stations also recorded elevated pollution levels. Egerton Road registered an AQI of 175, followed by Shahdara at 173, Multan Road 167, Kahna Nau 165, Safari Park 160 and DHA Phase 6 at 159. These readings were classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Punjab University and GT Road recorded lower readings of 149 and 148, respectively falling in the moderate category.

EPA's pollutant measurements showed elevated particulate matter lebels at several locations. PM2.5 concentrations reached 108.3 at Shahdara, 105.5 at Egerton Road, 99.9 at Multan Road and 97 at Kahna Nau, while Wagah border recorded PM10 at 683.5.

On IQAir's live monitoring platform, Lahore recorded a US AQI reading of 275 on Saturday morning, remaining in the unhealthy category. Its station-level figures showed readings of 322 in Allama Iqbal Town, 312 in Cantonment and 298 along Burki Road.

Lahore was listed seventh on IQAir's live ranking of major cities worldwide, with a US AQI reading of 161 when the ranking was accessed. Kuwait city topped the list at 487, followed by Kolkata at 210 and Delhi at 168.

The EPA's provincial AQI ranking placed Vehari at the top with a reading of 369, followed by Multan at 354, Sahiwal 329, Gujranwala 323, Sheikhupura 284, Kot Addu 271, Dera Ghazi Khan 270, Pakpattan 247, Nankana Sahib 238 and Wazirabad 233.

The PMD said dry weather was expected in most of Punjab, with smog likely at isolated places in Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Kot Addu, Multan, Bahawalpur and surrounding areas.

In Lahore, fog or smog is likely at isolated places in the morning.

A weekly outlook also warned of smog at isolated places in north-east and South Punjab.

The Punjab AQI dashboard advised reduction of prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when pollution levels were high.