LAHORE: The provincial metrolpolis continued to be marked as the most hazardous city of the world most of the time due to poor air quality on Saturday.

Maximum 465 Air Quality Index (AQI) was reported from the city at 1 to 2pm and continued to decrease after the sun rose after 2pm. The city was marked as the fourth hazardous city in the world at 8pm.

The AQI of different areas of the city was reported as Pakistan Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd. 354, Powerzone head office 325, Grand Charter School 287, US Consulate in Lahore 287, near Adda Plot, Raiwind Road 283, University of Central Punjab 268, VTS 268, University of Management and Technology 262, Kickstart MM Alam Road 261 and INTECH Process Automation 256.

The AQI measures the level of fine particles (PM2.5), larger particles (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3) in the air. An AQI of 151 to 200 is classified as “unhealthy”, 201 to 300 “very unhealthy” and more than 300 as “hazardous”.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department forecast cold weather for Sunday and expected mainly cold and partly cloudy in most districts of the Punjab province. Light rain/drizzle is expected in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Noorpur Thal, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur. Dense fog is expected in Okara, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Jhang, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Khanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, D.G Khan and surroundings areas during morning and night.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2025