LAHORE: Even before the start of cold weather conditions, smog has engulfed Lahore as it became the most polluted city in the world with the most hazardous levels of air quality on Sunday.

Once termed ‘the city of gardens,’ Lahore’s air quality level is continuously falling to hazardous levels. On Sunday, the worst air quality was noted in the wee hours when the AQI US was 510, according to theiqair.com, which monitors the air quality across the world. At the time of filing this report, the air quality index of Lahore was 376–most polluted in the world—followed by Delhi at 333. It should be noted that air is good to breathe in only if the AQI US is up to 50. Beyond 100, it becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups and unhealthy for all beyond 150.

Different areas of the city fared even worse with AQI US near the Polo Ground Cantt was 443 at 10pm, Lahore American School 419, Pakistan Engineering Services (Pvt) 415, CERP office 409, Syed Maratab Ali Road 381, Shah-e-Quaid-e-Azam 389, DHA Phase-V 369 and US Consulate 329.

Earlier, the Punjab government had announced to impose a curfew on Wednesdays but later deferred its plan after reviewing the smog situation in the provincial metropolis on Oct 16. It reversed its decision regarding weekly holidays in schools on Wednesdays due to the improved smog situation but announced holding a weekly meeting to evaluate the situation.

Wasa starts using mist queen machines to control smog

The government claimed taking effective measures after enforcement of Section 144 in the city alongside restrictions on smog-emitting vehicles and crop residue burning but these practices go on despite the curbs.

Environment Department Director General Zaheer Abbas Malik said they had launched a crackdown on pyrolysis plants and brick kilns. He said 233 brick kilns were inspected in Lahore while 12,056 in other cities of the province and 2,213 notices were issued to them on different violations. He claimed that the department had sealed 1,124 brick kilns and also demolished some others that violated the zigzag technology. He said fines worth Rs91.8m were imposed on 1,124 violators.

On the other hand, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has started water spray on major roads of the city through its mist-queen machines in order to minimise the factors contributing to smog.

“We have prepared two mist-queen machines on our own. Besides, we have 20 water tankers that have also started sprinkling water while we have also deployed 30 jetters for washing the roads. This entire fleet will work on the major roads, including Multan Road, Mall Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Bund Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Gulberg and Johar Towns’ main boulevards, Canal Road, Bedian Road, Kalma Chowk and Firdaus Market Road,” says an official source.

“Since the sprinkling of water is a major source to eliminate dust pollution, mist machines and other related equipment play a pivotal role in this regard,” he claimed.

The official said though it was not the duty of Wasa to control smog, it was doing this to make its contribution in the measures being taken by the government to control the health hazard. He said some more mist machines were being prepared and added that the mist machines carried out water spray from four sides—right, left, front and top.

Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmad visited various spots where the mist machines and water tankers were sprinkling water.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2023