Despite rain, smog persists in different parts of Punjab

LAHORE: Dense smog persisted in different parts of Punjab on Wednesday despite the rainfall.

Traffic continues to remain suspended on few parts of the motorway due to low visibility. 

Pakistan Metrological Department has predicted rain in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir today.

Meanwhile, due to better visibility, the M-4 motorway from Faisalabad to Gojra has been opened for traffic, however, authorities have strongly recommended commuters to drive carefully on the road.

 

However, the environmentalists have predicted that rain in plain areas of Punjab will reduce the intensity and duration of the persisting smog.

The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in the province, banning the burning of crops, tyres, and garbage until further notice in a bid to mitigate the effects of the smog.

Smog in the provincial capital had crossed all the international benchmarks early this week as the level of PM 2.5, which is termed the most dangerous pollutant in the air across the world, remained between 450ug/m3 and 500ug/m3 against the notified standards of 35ug/m3 per day.

As per World Health Organization standards, the daily average level of PM 2.5 should not be more than 10ug/m3 and aggregated annual mean 25ug/m3 in a day whereas as per a gazette notification of the Punjab government, the daily limit of PM2.5 is 15ug/m3 and aggregated annual mean 35ug/m3 per day.

It is pertinent to mention that Environmental Protection Department was concealing data about air quality and pollutants present in it whereas the above-mentioned scary data was revealed by air monitoring laboratories established by the private sector.