LAHORE: Anti-smog weapons have reduced the air quality index (AQI) of Kahna from 666 to 170 in the first operation of its kind in Punjab, provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday.
Punjab’s senior minister called the experiment a “remarkable success” in their environmental efforts.
Pakistan regularly ranks among the most polluted countries in the world, with Lahore often the most polluted megacity between November and February.
For six months, Lahore’s 14 million residents have inhaled concentrations of PM2.5 – tiny particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream – at levels 20 times or more than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Following the directive of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first anti-smog weapons operation in Kahna, Lahore has reduced the Air Quality Index (AQI) from 666 to 170.”
She added that the 70% reduction in air pollution has been scientifically analyzed and confirmed by the advanced environmental monitoring system.
“Our commitment to using modern technology to combat smog and protect citizens’ health remains absolute,” she added.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Environment Protection Force said that for the first time in the history of Punjab, the provincial government officially tested anti-smog weapons at Kahna in Lahore to improve air quality.
Kahna recorded a 70% reduction in air pollution after using anti-smog weapons, the spokesperson added.
