After stubble burning in India has already pushed Delhi on the verge of emergency, with the AQI as high as 420, recently Pakistan’s Lahore has also joined the list of sufferers.
Moderate smog has started developing in Lahore and bad air quality is being reported.
Human rights group Amnesty International earlier said that the Air Quality Index in Lahore had reached 484 at 10 am yesterday, whereas the threshold for hazardous level of air quality is 300.
The reason behind the lowering air quality is being traced back to the lowering minimum temperatures, humidity and calm winds at night that is allowing the contributing pollutants to settle down.
These pollutants are being generated mostly by Indian Punjab farmers as they keep burning massive crop residue, which later penetrates the bordering areas. Earlier, this week NASA rolled out satellite pictures showing huge crop residue burning in the East Punjab cities like Amritsar and Jalandhar. The local contribution to pollution over Lahore is just 20 per cent.
Although the local authorities are indicating a soon revival from smog as meteorologists indicate towards strong westerly winds and rains over the city by this weekend. This would provide relief, though temporary, against smog over the region.
Government has assured that adequate steps are being taken to prevent local contributions to smog.
Image Credits – Dawn
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