LAHORE:
Most major cities of Punjab were engulfed by smog on Monday and air quality deteriorated to a dangerous level.
Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Kasur recorded the worst air quality levels.
According to international monitoring agency IQAir, Gujranwala’s AQI rose to 762, one of the highest in the region.
However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted chances of rain 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 places 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 Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the intensity of smog in Lahore increased sharply after 4 am. The department’s monitoring and forecasting system indicated that winds blowing from the east and southeast carried smoke and particles from the districts of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur towards Lahore, Kasur, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Multan.
Experts warned that the influx is likely to worsen pollution levels across central Punjab. Low wind speeds early in the morning caused contaminants to become trapped near the ground.
Meteorologists attribute persistent smog to a temperature inversion layer, where colder 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 heart diseases, to avoid outdoor exposure between midnight and noon and again after 7 p.m.
