Rain Brings Smog Relief to Lahore as AQI Drops to 111

Rain and drizzle in several cities across Pakistan have brought some relief from smog in Lahore, reducing the city’s average Air Quality Index to 111, while the first winter rainfall and snowfall in the northern areas have intensified the cold weather, according to the Meteorological Department.

According to Dunya News, winds blowing since last evening and light rain in different areas of Lahore have contributed to a slight improvement in air quality. The provincial capital is expected to remain cloudy on Friday, with chances of light drizzle at scattered places during different parts of the day.

Weather data shows that Lahore’s maximum temperature is expected to reach 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to remain at 17 degrees Celsius. Humidity has been recorded at 70 per cent, with winds blowing at a speed of five kilometres per hour.

The improvement came a day after Delhi overtook Lahore as the world’s most polluted major city, with air quality in the Indian capital reaching hazardous levels. Lahore had ranked as the most polluted major city in the world for several days in a row before Friday’s rain brought the readings down, Dawn reported.

However, the air pollution situation in Bahawalpur remains extremely alarming, with the city’s Air Quality Index reaching 520, Dunya News reported. Residents, particularly those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions, have been advised to remain cautious despite the improvement in Lahore.

Meanwhile, the first winter rainfall and snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan have brought a sharp drop in temperatures, making the weather extremely cold. Heavy snowfall at Babusar Top has forced the closure of roads beyond Baisar, leaving two oil tankers stranded due to adverse weather conditions.

Snowfall has also been reported in the mountains of Upper Hunza and at the Khunjerab Pass. The Meteorological Department has forecast further rain and snowfall across the country over the next 24 hours, and officials say the improvement in Lahore’s air quality may be temporary, as readings can change with wind direction and atmospheric conditions.