The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday issued a warning about increasing smog levels across various regions of the country in the coming days, urging relevant authorities to implement preventive measures, Dawn reported.
According to the MET Office, stable weather conditions are likely to trap harmful pollutants in the atmosphere. Calm winds, lower temperatures, and humidity are expected to prevent pollutants from dispersing, leading to dense smog over eastern Punjab, particularly in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, and Khanpur.
The PMD explained that smog — a mixture of smoke and fog — typically forms between November and mid-December. Current dry and stable weather patterns are expected to worsen smog formation, heightening air pollution levels in major cities, Dawn noted.
Industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and persistent weather conditions are the main contributors to deteriorating air quality, posing serious threats to public health and the environment. The PMD cautioned that the rising smog could lead to an increase in respiratory illnesses, asthma, and other pollution-related health issues. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, are at particular risk.
Poor visibility caused by smog may also lead to more road accidents, while outdoor activities could face disruptions.
Lahore remains among the most affected areas, having been ranked the most polluted city in the world earlier this month, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 274, according to global air monitoring data cited by ARY News on October 19. Pollution levels varied across the city, with Allama Iqbal Town recording an AQI of 459, Gulberg 396, Shadman 384, Model Town 362, and Lahore Airport 398. The city’s average AQI stood at 183 — categorized as “unhealthy” for the general population. However, officials anticipated a slight improvement in air quality later in the day due to increased wind activity.
Environmental authorities have advised citizens, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure, ARY News reported.
To tackle air pollution, the Punjab government launched its first anti-smog gun operation in Lahore’s Kahna area. The initiative reportedly achieved a 70 per cent reduction in pollution levels, with the local AQI dropping from 666 to 170 following the use of anti-smog guns.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb shared a video of the operation on X, describing it as a major success in the government’s environmental drive. “This 70% decrease in air pollution has been scientifically analysed & confirmed by our advanced environmental monitoring system,” the minister said.
Earlier this year, on January 11, Lahore experienced similarly hazardous air conditions, recording an AQI of 529 — the second highest in the world at the time. The main pollutant, PM2.5, was measured at 35.6 times above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit, Dawn reported.
