Pakistan considers artificial rain after Lahore declared world’s most polluted city

The eastern Pakistani city of Lahore ranks first on a real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities, with a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 193, according to Swiss group IQAir. who described the air quality as “hazardous.”

This comes as dense smog engulfed the city on Wednesday (October 23) morning.

A senior official at the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Imran Hamid Sheikh, said pollution levels could have been worse if it had not been for the government’s continued efforts.

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According to an advisory issued on Tuesday (October 22) by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), foggy and smog conditions are common from November to mid-December as the country enters its winter months. Air quality deteriorates during colder months as the temperature inversion traps pollution closer to the ground.

Lahore and the neighboring Indian capital, New Delhi, are among the most polluted cities in the world.

Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, whose chief minister has called for “climate diplomacy” with India to combat pollution.

On Tuesday, Punjab, Pakistan, announced plans for artificial rain to combat rising smog levels after Lahore was declared the world’s most polluted city.

Addressing a press conference, the city’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari said: “Yesterday, Lahore was declared the most polluted city in the world. We have taken several initiatives to address this issue and are now planning to inject artificial rain into the city.

However, no date has been announced for the artificial rains.

Indian capital New Delhi followed Lahore with a US AQI of 186. Meanwhile, Siwan, a district in the Indian state of Bihar, ranked third on the list with a US AQI of 137.

(With contribution from agencies)