Much to the relief of citizens, the light rain which poured down Thursday in Lahore has improved the air quality of the otherwise smog-choked city as its AQI level has gone down to 169 Friday. Now Lahore has changed its position from the most polluted city of the world to number seven. Following the improvement in the air quality level in the Punjab capital, the provincial government has lifted all the smog-related restrictions. The Punjab government has also announced winter break. The educational institutions will remain closed from December 18 till January 1.
In his tweet, Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed that there would be no restrictions planned for the upcoming weekend due to improvement in the air quality level.
The weather in Lahore will remain misty today with minimum temperature recorded at 13C and maximum temperature would reach 23C. According to the Pakistan Metrological Department, cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country Fiday. However, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with snowfall over the hills) is expected at isolated places in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Smog/fog is likely in upper Sindh, plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Cold and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country.
However, rain/thunderstorm occurred in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rainfall (mm): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Kalam, Malam Jabba 09, Balakot 07, Kakul 06, Chitral, Patan 03, Saidu Sharif 02, Punjab: Murree 18, Narowal 05, Lahore (City 02), Islamabad, Chaklala 01, Kashmir: Muzaffarabad (City 14, Airport 11), Garhi Dupatta 08, Rawalakot 03, Gilgit Baltistan: Gupis 01 mm. The intensity of smog in the city has lessened and Lahore, in terms of pollution, has moved to the seventh place in the world. The Meteorological Department sources told media on Friday that the average rate of smog in the city has been recorded at less than 200 (AQI). Air pollution has significantly decreased in the provincial capital on Friday, the average rate of smog in the city was recorded at 175, while Lahore ranked seventh in the world in terms of pollution, the sources said. On the instructions of Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Randhawa, action is being taken over violation of the anti-smog orders. During the anti-smog operations, four furnaces were demolished for using old technology, while nine were extinguished by pouring water. According to the district administration official sources, all 1190 kilns of Lahore division are converted to zigzag technology, 118 kilns have been closed and cases have been registered for violation, while a fine of Rs 1.8 million has also been imposed. A report of 40-day operations in Lahore division for anti-smog was also released on Friday, in which it is stated that 304 cases were registered for burning crop residue and a fine of Rs. 87 lakh was imposed. It has been said in the report that notices were issued to 2,898 farmers for burning crop residues, while affidavits were taken from 1406, challans were issued for 4572 vehicles emitting smoke while a fine of Rs 32 lakh was imposed and 1158 vehicles were closed. The report further states that so far, a total of 2689 industrial units were checked in Lahore division, 362 were sealed and FIRs were registered against 94 for violation of emission control system. The district administration sources further said that actions were also taken to set garbage and green waste on fire in the entire city.
