LAHORE: The air quality in Punjab remained very poor on Thursday with various cities, including Multan, Gujranwala and Sialkot, experiencing dangerously high levels of PM2.5 concentrations.

According to the data from the IQAir, an air quality monitoring platform, Multan’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to a staggering ‘hazardous’ level of 774, Gujranwala 722, Faisalabad 507, Lahore 451 and Sialkot 366 in the early hours on Nov 13. Many other urban centres also recorded AQI readings above 300, prompting health warnings.

In Lahore, other stations also recorded hazardous levels of air quality at 8pm, including Forest Department Ravi Road 354, Fauji Fertilizer Pakistan 332 and CERP Office 310. The residents were advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed and wear masks when outside and use air purifiers indoors.

Meanwhile, the Met Office reported that Lahore’s maximum temperature on Thursday was 26°C and the minimum was 12°C. Winds were blowing at three kilometers per hour, with humidity levels at 80pc, conditions that contribute to the persistence of smog over the city.

Dry weather conditions to persist across Punjab

The PMD also forecasted dry weather in most districts of Punjab; however, cold and dry weather is likely in Kashmir, Murree and Galliyat. Smog may develop over a few plain areas of Punjab.

In Lahore to combat smog, the forest department planted 10,000 in the Karol Forest through community partnership. According to details, these trees were planted with public participation on 14 acres of barren, vacant land that had been unused for years.

The department’s special teams carried out the tree planting in the forest. For the permanent improvement of Lahore’s AQI, an environmentally conscious citizen from Pakpattan gifted 10,000 trees to be planted in the forest.

Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb awarded the citizen the title of ‘Green Ambassador’.

In Karol Forest, the department, school students, volunteers, and staff collectively planted local trees on 14 acres of land.

Meanwhile, Punjab Housing Department spokesperson said that significant progress was being made on the project to deepen parks and green belts in Lahore. After completing surveys in various areas of the city, on-ground work has begun.

According to the spokesperson, more than 50 parks and 15 green belts in Lahore were selected for the project and work was initiated at six sites in Gunj Bakhsh Town, four in Ravi Town, and two in Gulberg Town under the initial phase.

According to the spokesperson, groundwater recharge wells have been completed at Liberty Chowk, Maratab Ali Road, and H Block in Gulberg, while work continues rapidly at Allah Hoo Chowk, G-3 Block, and B Block in Johar Town.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025