Tag: air quality

  • Artificial rain in Lahore; Just looking like a wow

    Artificial rain in Lahore; Just looking like a wow

    In a historic stride, Lahore on Saturday witnessed its maiden experiment with artificial rain, revealed caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi.

    Addressing the media in Lahore, the caretaker CM Punjab said that the occasion marks the first successful venture into artificial rain in the country’s history. He revealed that this morning, Lahore, previously the most polluted city, experienced artificial rain for the first time.

    Naqvi clarified that no additional funds were allocated for this initiative, however, he expressed willingness to spend money if needed to combat smog. Rainfall occurred in approximately 10 areas of Lahore, covering a planned region of 10 to 15 km.

    He expressed gratitude to the Environment Department and the UAE team for their exhaustive scrutiny of the process, culminating in the eagerly awaited results.

    Detailing the procedure, Naqvi disclosed that 48 flares were deployed for cloud seeding, specifically targeting the Shahdara area.

    Looking ahead, Naqvi mentioned the upcoming installation of smog towers. He emphasized that the artificial rain experiment, being both novel and impactful, is currently under observation for short-term and long-term effects. Results from the artificial rain are expected tonight.

    Naqvi shared insights into the cloud seeding mission, noting that it was executed some time ago, directing clouds towards Shahdara and Muridke.

  • How does the artificial rain happen?

    How does the artificial rain happen?

    As smog spreads across Punjab, causing a potential health hazard, the caretaker government of the province is considering artificial rain to combat the toxic pollution.

    Cloud formation

    To make artificial rain, there need to be clouds. Experts are saying that they can find these clouds and then use a process called cloud seeding to make it rain.

    Cloud seeding is like giving clouds a little push to make them release rain. Scientists found out about the process in 1946, when they discovered that by using a special mix of silver iodide and dry ice, they could make clouds produce more ice and eventually rain.

    Nowadays, we still use silver iodide and dry ice for cloud seeding, but we’ve gotten better at it. The meteorological department in Pakistan has already tried it out successfully. Other countries, like Gulf nations, also use artificial rain.

    In the United Arab Emirates, scientists are trying a new method, using water-absorbing salt flares. These flares release tiny salt particles into the air, which activate the clouds and speed up the rain-making process. It’s like a high-tech way of helping nature create rain when it’s needed.

    Why is artificial rain important?

    Artificial rain is important because it can help clear out the smog in cities. When it rains, it washes away the pollutants in the air, making it easier for people to breathe and improving overall air quality. It’s a smart solution to a serious problem.

  • SBP orders bank closures in smog-affected Punjab districts

    SBP orders bank closures in smog-affected Punjab districts

    On Wednesday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced the closure of bank branches in Lahore division and certain districts of Punjab severely affected by smog.

    According to a statement issued by the central bank, all banks and Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) are required to keep their branches closed in Lahore Division, including Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, and Kasur districts, as well as Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, and Narowal districts, on November 10.

    This decision was made in accordance with a notification from the Punjab government dated November 8, 2023. The Punjab government declared an “environmental and health emergency” in Lahore and two other divisions from November 9 to 12 to address the smog’s impact.

    According to the notification, all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gymnasiums, schools, and both public and private offices will remain closed for four days in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad divisions. Public and private transport to and from these areas will also be restricted.

    Section-144 and health emergencies have been imposed in the Lahore division to control smog, following deteriorating air quality in the region over the past few days. Section 144 has been imposed in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Nankana Sahib districts.

    During environmental and health emergencies, educational institutions, government and private offices, cinemas, parks, and restaurants will remain closed, and markets will be shut on Saturday, as specified in the notification.

  • Stockholm to ban petrol, diesel cars in city centre from 2025

    Stockholm to ban petrol, diesel cars in city centre from 2025

    The capital of Sweden, Stockholm, will ban the presence of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 in a central 20-block area of the city in order to achieve better air quality.

    The city’s vice-mayor for transport and urban environment, Lars Stromgren, said in a statement, “Nowadays the air in Stockholm causes babies to have sick lungs and the elderly to die prematurely. It is a completely unacceptable situation,”
    He added that there is a need to “limit the harmful exhaust gases from petrol and diesel cars,”

    The 20-block area of the city is a bustling part of Stockholm with a shopping district, office buildings, and eateries. And according to Stromgren, this area “has a lot of pedestrians and cyclists, where the air quality needs to be better,”

    “This is also a part of the city where we see that there is a lot of interest in a faster electrification, with actors that can spearhead the transition,” he added.

    The ban will come into effect on December 31, 2024. However, police cars, ambulances and other security services will be exempted.

  • Karachi ranked most polluted city in world, second day in row

    Karachi ranked most polluted city in world, second day in row

    Karachi has been at the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities for the past consecutive two days.

    Dawn newspaper quoted ‘IQAir.com’, an air quality monitoring website, stating that Karachi topped the chart, followed by New Delhi.

    The concentration of 2.5 particulate matter (pm) in Karachi is 20.3 times higher than the annual air quality guideline value of the World Health Organization (WHO) as last night it recorded an air quality index of 175.

    Air quality index readings in the range of 151 to 200 are considered unhealthy, while air quality index readings between 201 and 300 are dangerous and severely harmful to health.

    According to the annual report released by ‘IQ Air’, the level of pollution in Karachi has not improved over the past few years, in fact it has increased.

  • Air Quality: Lahore is the most polluted city in the world right now

    Air Quality: Lahore is the most polluted city in the world right now

    Lahore on Monday topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world with the worst air quality levels on the globe.

    Karachi is second on the list while India’s New Delhi is third on IQAir.

    Lahore was measured to have 172 Unhealthy particulate matter and Karachi had 106 particulate matter, according to the air quality index.

    The numbers keep changing.

    As per United States Environmental protection agency, a hazardous category indicates an AQI of 301–500. The ‘good’ category is 0–50, which is followed by ‘moderate’ at 51–100 while anything in the 101–301 AQI range is considered unhealthy.

  • Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore recorded the worst air quality in four years on Wednesday. An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 981 was recorded near the Mall Road, Samaa has reported. As per United States Environmental protection agency, the hazardous category indicates an AQI of 301–500. The ‘good’ category is 0–50, which is followed by ‘moderate’ at 51–100 while anything in the 101–301 AQI range is considered unhealthy.

    The AQI on Wednesday was recorded above 700 in most areas of Punjab’s capital. A level of 761 was recorded in Gulberg Town, 625 in Fatehpur, while the air quality in Model Town was recorded 591, Samaa reported.

    In November, Lahore was also ranked number one while Karachi ranked fifth among the top five cities with bad air quality in the world.

    Meanwhile, in November, Provincial Minister of Punjab for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.

  • Minister asks FIA to take action against ‘fake’ air quality data, closure of schools under consideration

    Minister asks FIA to take action against ‘fake’ air quality data, closure of schools under consideration

    Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) Minister Muhammad Rizwan has written a letter to the director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), requesting him to take action against those spreading fake/unauthorised data of air quality on social media and internet, Geo News has reported. He requested FIA to take action against such people under cyber laws.

     The letter stated that that EPD is in charge of enforcing the Punjab Environmental Protection Act of 1997. “It is an Act to provide protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, for the prevention and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development,” read the letter.

    The minister in the letter further wrote that, “unscrupulous elements with malafide intention” are reporting fake Air Quality Index (AQI) on different media platforms with an intent to harm the country’s image. “Fake/unauthorised data on air quality of Lahore or any city of Punjab is harming international reputation of the government and creating fear among the citizens, which can’t be tolerated,” said the provincial minister while speaking to The News.Read more- Lahore tops the worst air quality list, again

    The minister also added that the government was considering closing schools for a certain period of time in Punjab, as a precautionary measure. In addition, options of smart lockdown in sensitive areas and a ban on all kinds of construction activities in the city are also being considered.

    Earlier, the minister claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.

  • Lahore number one, while Karachi fifth for poor air quality in the world

    Lahore number one, while Karachi fifth for poor air quality in the world

    Lahore ranked number one while Karachi ranked fifth among the top five cities with bad air quality in the world.

    The second on the list is Croatia’s Zagreb while India’s Delhi is on third, Mumbai fourth, and Pakistan’s Karachi is the fifth city, according to air pollution data released by the United States (US) Air Quality Index.

    Screen-grab of the latest IQAir website world air quality ranking

    Lahore suffers from high levels of air pollution, with the city regularly ranking at the top of IQAir AirVisual’s live pollution rankings of the major global cities.

    According to environmental experts and an earlier report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the cause of smog remains years-long pollution caused mostly by the transport sector and industries, and not just crop burning.

  • Howdy Modi: Trump calls India ‘filthy’ during final presidential debate

    Howdy Modi: Trump calls India ‘filthy’ during final presidential debate

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has described the air in India as “filthy” as he denounced Democratic rival Joe Biden’s plans to tackle climate change.

    At their second and final presidential debate, Trump renewed his criticism that action on climate change was unfair to the US.

    “Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India — it’s filthy. The air is filthy,” Trump said at the debate in Nashville, adding, “I walked out of the Paris Accord as we had to take out trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly.”

    Trump has repeatedly blamed countries like India and China for not doing enough on climate change, labelling them as regions with air that is impossible to breathe. He has continuously argued that countries like China and India are benefiting the most from the Paris agreement.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the air in several cities in northern India is especially bad in winter months — November to February — when several factors, such as farmers burning crop stubble to clear their fields, vehicular and industrial pollution, festive fireworks and low wind speed, contribute to what doctors call a “deadly cocktail of poisonous gases”.

    Despite the spikes in air pollution year after year, few concrete steps have been taken to control it.

    During the debate, Trump also charged that Biden’s climate plan was an “economic disaster” for oil states such as Texas and Oklahoma.

    Biden had said that climate change is “an existential threat to humanity. We have a moral obligation to deal with it.”

    “We’re going to pass the point of no return within the next eight to 10 years,” he said.

    The planet has already warmed by around one degree Celsius (34 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels, enough to boost the intensity of deadly heatwaves, droughts and tropical storms.

    Trump’s remarks come days before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visit New Delhi for talks on building the growing US-India partnership.

    At the first presidential debate, Trump also spoke critically of India, questioning its coronavirus data amid criticism of Trump’s handling of the pandemic.

    Read more – The hideous face of India under Modi

    Soon after Trump’s remarks, “filthy” and “Howdy! Modi” started trending on Twitter though many used the hashtag o highlight their concerns. The “Howdy, Modi!” event, held in Houston in September 2019 was attended by nearly 50,000 people. It was billed as one of the largest ever receptions for a foreign leader in the US and Mr Trump had called it a “profoundly historic event”.

    https://twitter.com/Su4ita/status/1319483073503744000?s=20

    https://twitter.com/dharmicverangna/status/1319537322291990530?s=20

    Meanwhile, #FilthyIndia is also trending on Twitter Pakistan.