LAHORE:
The first rain of the new year, although scattered and light, provided much-needed relief to the deteriorating air quality in Lahore on Sunday, as the Meteorological Office forecast similar weather to continue for the next 24 hours.
The rain began in the early hours of Sunday and continued intermittently in various parts of the city until the evening. According to Met officials, a frontal weather system was affecting the northern regions of the country and was expected to persist until Monday.
Cloudy skies with rain and snowfall are predicted in Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Gilgit-Baltistan and upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Moderate to dense fog is likely over most of the plains of Punjab and upper Sindh during early morning and evening hours.
Rain was also recorded in other cities, while snowfall was recorded in Chitral, Kalam, Drosh and Malam Jabba. The lowest temperature on Sunday was recorded in Ziarat at -11°C, while Lahore experienced a minimum of 7.3°C and a maximum of 17.5°C.
After the rain, Lahore’s average AQI improved but remained at an unhealthy level of 169, with PM2.5 levels recorded 16.4 times higher than WHO guidelines. The most contaminated localities included the US Consulate (573 ICA), Ada Plot, Raiwind Road (394 ICA) and Johar Town (285 ICA).
In Karachi, the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast cold and dry weather in most districts of Sindh for the next 24 hours. However, moderate to dense fog was forecast in patches in Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Khairpur, Mohenjodaro and surrounding areas.
Previously, the Department of Environmental Protection claimed to have combated smog and air pollution for the past 10 months. Strict action is being taken against violators of environmental laws.
The department has inspected 11,000 brick kilns across Punjab, issuing 11,153 notices, demolishing 1,191 kilns, sealing 1,335 and registering 1,832 cases. Additionally, 484 factories were sealed for violating environmental laws, 174 cases were filed and fines worth Rs 46 million were imposed. Efforts to curb fugitive dust included inspections of 4,588 sites, with 688 notices issued and 46 sites sealed. With APP input
