Tag: Lahore

According to experts, there is an increase in air pollution during winter months due to change in wind speed, wind direction and sliding minimum temperature…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s Lahore on Monday remained on top of the list of the most populated cities of the world with an average pollution reading of 415, Pakistan-based ARY News reported.

According to the air pollution data shared by the Punjab Environment Protection Department, Upper Mall remained the most polluted locality with a 508 Air Quality Index reading. Meanwhile, Polo Ground Lahore Cantt had an AQI reading of 491 while Lahore College for Women University had an AQI rating of 297, Lahore College of Earth and Environmental Sciences recorded a 250 AQI and Town Hall Lahore had a 299 AQI reading.

An AQI rating between 151-200 is considered unhealthy while an AQI rating between 201 to 300 is more harmful and AQI over 300 has been extremely hazardous. Notably, the AQI is calculated based on five categories of pollution: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

According to experts, there is an increase in air pollution during winter months due to change in wind speed, wind direction and sliding minimum temperature. The air becomes heavier in the winter in comparison to summer, causing poisonous particles in the atmosphere to move downwards and causing atmosphere pollution resulting in a layer of polluted particles, including large amounts of carbon and smoke, covering an area.

Last week, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Pakistan’s Punjab notified the imposition of smart lockdown in ten districts in view of the recent smog situation, ARY News reported.

According to the details, the smart lockdown will remain enforced in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, and Sargodha divisions. The educational institutions are also closed in the aforesaid districts. Meanwhile, markets, shops, cinemas, and restaurants will remain closed till 3 pm, according to the notification, ARY News reported.

The citizens have been warned by the environmental department about the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city which has been recorded at 379, after which Lahore became the most polluted city in the world, according to ARY News report.

The experts advised the citizens to wear face masks and take necessary precautionary measures in order to combat smog. The Punjab government officials asked citizens and industrialists to cooperate with the authorities to combat this calamity. (ANI)

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The city, which had experienced five days of relatively normal air quality, saw a sudden spike with a maximum AQI of 401 recorded at 9 am, marking it as extremely unsafe for breathing…reports Asian Lite News

Following a brief respite, Lahore is once again grappling with a severe air pollution crisis as the air quality index (AQI) reaching alarming levels, Dawn reported on Wednesday.

The city, which had experienced five days of relatively normal air quality, saw a sudden spike with a maximum AQI of 401 recorded at 9 am, marking it as extremely unsafe for breathing.

Global air quality monitoring platform iqair.com provided data indicating a slight improvement in the afternoon, with the AQI dropping to 188 by 7 pm. However, hopes for sustained improvement were dashed as the air quality deteriorated again, registering an AQI of 236 at 9 pm. This unsettling development propelled Lahore to the third spot on the list of the most polluted cities globally, Dawn reported.

It is crucial to note that an AQI below 50 is considered safe for breathing, and Lahore’s current readings indicate a severe threat to public health.

Air quality varied across different areas of the city. Fida Hussain House reported an AQI of 364, Syed Maratib Ali Road at 309, CERP Office at 282, Polo Ground Cantt at 270, US Consulate in Lahore at 270, Lahore American School at 267, NetSol LHR2 at 259, Pakistan Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd at 240, DHA Phase 8 at 236, and WWF Pakistan at 231.

Lahore traditionally experiences a decline in air quality during the winter season, particularly from October to February. During this period, farmers in the wider Punjab province burn crop remnants, contributing to smog. Weather changes further exacerbate the problem by trapping pollutants in the air for a longer duration.

The primary contributors to air pollution in Lahore include vehicle and industrial emissions, smoke from brick kilns, burning of crop residue and general waste, and dust from construction sites. Deforestation for infrastructure development, such as new roads and buildings, also plays a significant role, according to Dawn.

The winter air pollution is worsened by temperature inversion, a phenomenon where a layer of warm air prevents the upward movement of pollutants, leading to their accumulation.

To combat the rising air pollution crisis, experts suggest making real-time air quality data readily available to the public with greater granularity. When individuals are aware of the pollution levels they are exposed to, they can take informed measures to protect themselves and contribute to collective efforts in combating air pollution.

Reducing industrial and vehicular emissions is identified as a critical step towards improving air quality. As the situation in Lahore continues to worsen, urgent and coordinated efforts are required to address the root causes of air pollution and safeguard the health and well-being of the city’s residents, Dawn reported. (ANI)

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