Smog persists in metropolis

LAHORE :

The provincial capital ranked as the 12th most polluted city in the country on Eednesday, with an AQI of 353, according to a Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dashboard.

The dashboard showed readings of 500 in Bhakkar, Jhang, Kot Addu, Nankana Sahib and Pakpattan, followed by 440 in Kasur, 429 in Sahiwal, 427 in Muzaffargarh and 419 in Sargodha.

Readings from monitors in Lahore in the evening varied widely. Kahna Nau recorded the highest AQI at 496, followed by GT Road at 421 and Shahdara 393. Egerton Road recorded 377 and DHA Phase-VI 373, while Safari Park had the lowest reading at 115.

Raiin, wind and thunderstorms are forecast in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, the Potohar region and Islamabad.

Isolated rain is also expected in north-eastern and central Punjab during the evening or night. Hail and heavy rain may occur in a few places.

The forecast names Lahore among areas where fog or smog is likely at isolated locations during morning hours.

Other places listed include Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Kot Addu.