LAHORE: Pakistan has carried out a trial of local technology for artificial rain in a bid to mitigate the effects of dense smog in Punjab province.
The development comes as the provincial government of Punjab declared a health emergency Friday due to smog.
Earlier, Dawn news reported that around 2 million people across the province sought medical treatment for smog-related health issues.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Punjab government has conducted a successful trial of local technology for artificial rain.
As per details, “cloud seeding” was conducted in Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Gujar Khan resulting in rainfall in Gujar Khan and Jhelum within a few hours.
Radio Pakistan reported that this project is the result of joint efforts by the Punjab government, Pakistan Army’s Scientific Research and Development experts, Army Aviation, PARCO, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
All relevant organizations utilized their expertise and advanced technology to successfully complete this trial.
Health Crisis
Punjab government announced a 10-year plan to combat smog and air pollution, as toxic smog has blanketed Lahore and 17 other districts in the province since last month.
Speaking at a press conference, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that a complete lockdown will be imposed in the provincial capitals Lahore and Multan from Friday to Sunday, due to smog that has led to 1.9 million hospitalizations in the province in the month of October.
In March, CM Maryam Nawaz launched a 10-year Smog Policy, marking the first time a comprehensive smog mitigation plan was developed in collaboration with every sector. Clear targets were assigned to each sector to ensure effective implementation. pic.twitter.com/CJwyV6mKRe
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) November 15, 2024
“For the first time, Punjab has developed a 10-year climate change policy,” said Aurangzeb. She added that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is personally overseeing the implementation plan.
READ ALSO: Pakistan Declares Smog Health Crisis as Two Million Seek Treatment in Punjab
She said that the government has launched several initiatives to tackle pollution. Among these, she said, is the distribution of “super seeders” to farmers, with the provincial government covering 60% of the cost, while farmers contribute the remaining 40%.
“We aim to distribute 5,000 super seeders across Punjab by July next year,” Aurangzeb said, adding that more companies have been engaged to ramp up production.
The government has also taken action against pollution from brick kilns, and demolished 800 illegal kilns. Aurangzeb explained that sealing the kilns temporarily would not be effective as they would likely resume operations by January, so demolition was pursued instead.
She said that a complete ban has been imposed on burning kilns in Lahore, the home of more 14 million people, to deal with poor air quality.
Lahore Air Quality
On Friday, Lahore air quality remained ‘hazardous’ for the 12th consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 810, according to IQAir, which tracks real-time data of air quality worldwide.
At the same time, the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—dangerous, cancer-causing microparticles that enter the bloodstream through the lungs—were recorded at 481 micrograms per cubic meter in Lahore, which is over 96.2 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) daily maximum air quality guideline.
The smog is blamed for thousands of premature deaths each year and is an annual source of misery for the capital’s residents, with various piecemeal government initiatives failing to make a measurable impact on the problem.
