Dry, Cold Weather Continues in Lahore as Smog Persists

News Desk 

Lahore: Dry and cold weather continued to grip Lahore on Sunday, with similar conditions expected on Monday, according to the Meteorological Department.

Officials said continental air was dominating most parts of the country, keeping the weather dry across the plains while hilly regions remained cold to very cold, especially during the morning and night.

Smog, along with shallow fog patches, may develop in parts of Punjab during the late-night and early-morning hours, the Met office added.

Lahore’s Air Quality Improves to 159 AQI, Still ‘Unhealthy’

Lahore recorded an unexpected improvement in air quality on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 159—an improvement but still within the “unhealthy” range by international standards.

According to IQAir, the concentration of PM2.5 particles remained 13.4 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual guideline.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/dry-weather-to-continue-across-lahore-sindh/

A senior official of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the improvement reflected successful pollution-control measures. Winds blowing at 8 km/h from the northwest helped prevent polluted air from entering Lahore from across the border, the official noted. However, the primary factor behind the declining pollution levels was the effective execution of the EPA’s strict action plan.

The EPA credited 24/7 monitoring, intensified industrial inspections, and search operations for the improvement. Over 800 smoke-emitting vehicles were taken off the roads, fines were increased, and strict checks were conducted on brick kilns, factories, and commercial units, many of which were sealed for violations.

Authorities also enforced a zero-tolerance policy on open burning of crop residue and waste, while mechanical road washing, water sprinkling, and an improved traffic management plan further contributed to better air quality.

Despite the improvement, officials cautioned that pollution levels remain a public health concern and said efforts will continue to bring the AQI down to safer levels.