LAHORE:The average AQI of the provincial capital remained hazardous as the figures reached 353 whereas at different times of the day it crossed 500 at different places here on Sunday.
Data collected from IQAir revealed that the PM2.5 concentration was 50.3 times the World Health Organisation annual PM2.5 guideline value.
The most polluted city areas included Allama Iqbal Town (732), Liberty (549), Johar Town (491), Bedian Road (386), Barki Road (372), DHA (360), Cantonment (286) and Civil Secretariat (285).
As usual, the winter was gradually strengthening in Lahore and various cities of Punjab due to which fog and smog were prominent. As the decrease in temperature witnessed at night, pollution started to remain suspended in the air due to temperature inversion affecting visibility in the morning and night hours and citizens were advised to be careful.
Met officials said this situation was a normal part of the weather in the plains of Punjab. They said in Lahore, the arrival of polluted particles from Indian Punjab through easterly winds also continued and the smog caused by traffic and commercial activities in the morning hours was also present.
EPD officials said local pollution was under control to a considerable extent, of course, the arrival of pollution from the Indian corridor, a clear decrease in temperature and suspended winds have increased pollution.
Continuous and effective monitoring of the smog situation was ongoing and minute-by-minute AQI data was being monitored through the Punjab Monitoring Network and the Punjab government was fully mobilised to protect public health.
EPA field teams imposed fines and took action on violations while strict crackdown on smog-emitting vehicles, industrial emissions and burning of crop residues. Public should use face masks and citizens with sensitive nature should avoid outdoor activities.
Met officials said a shallow westerly wave was affecting western and upper parts of the country. They predicted that cold and partly cloudy weather was expected over most parts of the country while very cold in hilly areas during morning/night hours. However, rain (light snowfall over mountains) was expected at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Northwestern Balochistan.
APP adds: Lahore emerged as the third most polluted city in the world on Sunday.According to the Meteorological Department, the sun’s rays will be dim, the sky will be partly cloudy.There is a possibility of light rain.The City’s temperature was recorded at 12°C, minimum was 8°C, maximum was likely to be 22°C.
