LAHORE: Lahore remained at top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 753, with Multan’s AQI measured as 587 and Peshawar’s 463, besides AQI level in Islamabad and Haripur has also been recorded above 200.
The provincial capital have been blanked in thick smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and winter cooling.
Polluted winds coming from India have been making the situation worst in most parts of Punjab, rendering the efforts to remedy the air pollution ineffective.
The extremely high pollution levels have also been taking its toll the public health and causing numerous disease among the citizens, especially the children and the elderly.
The AQI over the DHA Phase-8 locality of the Punjab capital was recorded at 1391, followed by CERPO office where it stood at 918.
Similarly, it was 826 over Syed Maratab Ali Road, 723 at The Mall, 692 at Ghazi Road Interchange, 635 over the US consulate, and 624 over Askari-10.
It was partly cloudy in the city while the chances of rain were only two per cent. Cool breeze was blowing at the speed of five kilometers per hour, while maximum temperature was expected to touch 29 degrees Celsius later in the day.
The humidity level was recorded at 90 per cent.
Smog situation in other Punjab cities
The situation was no different in other Punjab cities such as Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Narowal and others as smog, coupled with fog reduced visibility considerably, creating a great inconvenience for the masses.
The AQI in Faisalabad stood at 266 while it was 479 at Multan.
The AQI in Gujranwala was recorded at 220, which made it difficult for the people to breathe.
Dense smog was notice in WAPDA Town and Khayali areas of the city in the morning and evening.
Likewise, smog in and around Narowal has not only taken its toll on people’s health, but has also forced traffic to move at a snail’s pace.
Smog has also made the lives of people in Hafizabad miserable as farmers are busy burning the residue of rice crop, while smoke-emitting vehicles are plying on the city roads.
Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that smog has not been a city or province’s problem, “it has become the problem of Pakistan and the region,” minister claimed.
She advised citizens to observe caution and residents of the most polluted cities avoid unnecessarily getting out of their homes.
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