LAHORE: The smog situation in cities across central Punjab improved drastically over the course of Tuesday, with the provincial metropolis’ Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping from a ‘hazardous’ 439 to 182 by midnight.

Easterly winds bringing pollution from across the eastern border blanketed many cities with dense smog throughout the day, but as windspeeds picked up and rain clouds began to gather, AQI levels also improved in the evening.

According to the Smog Monitoring and Forecasting System, winds blowing from the east and southeast carried polluted particles from the regions of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Hoshiarpur of Indian Punjab, into central Punjab.

Wind speeds between six and eight miles per hour carried polluted air from the east into Lahore, Kasur, Faisalabad, Okara, and Sahiwal.

Due to falling temperatures and the absence of rainfall, pollutants are accumulating near the ground, resulting in sharp rise in PM2.5 concentration in the air.

However, the average AQI in Lahore on Tuesday was around 212, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Some of the most polluted areas in the city included DHA Phase 8 (532), Paragon Society (429), GCU Hiking & Mountaineering Club (352), Barki (310), Askari 10 (286), and Ravi Road (281).

Experts warn that the intensity of pollution is expected to persist throughout the night as temperature inversion keeps the pollutants trapped near the surface.

However, officials monitoring the phenomenon in Punjab said winds were blowing from the south to northwest at a speed of 11 km/h, helping disperse pollutants and gradually improve Lahore’s air quality, APP said.

Rain is also expected within the next 24 hours, according to a Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025