Lahore stands 5th among cities with worst AQI
Lahore has limited visibility because it is foggy in the morning. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the city is sixth out of the top ten most polluted cities in the world according to sources.
The capital of Punjab had an average air quality reading of 181, which is high. Karachi is currently the third most polluted city in the world in terms of air quality.
Five planes were diverted to Islamabad due to heavy fog in Lahore, including those from Istanbul, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur, Jeddah, and Sharjah.
Moreover, two flights of PIA destined for Jedda and Madina will now take off from Islamabad instead of Lahore. Passengers of these flights have been informed to reach Islamabad by road for their flights.
It is to be mentioned here that AQI as high as 151-200 is considered unhealthy, while an AQI reading between 201 to 300 is harmful and AQI rate over 300 mark is extremely hazardous.
Lahore stands 5th among cities with worst AQI
According to experts, the air becomes heavier in the winter as compared to summer, causing poisonous particles in the atmosphere to move downwards and making the air polluted. As a result, a layer of polluted particles, including large amounts of carbon and smoke, covers an area.
The smoke produced by factories and with burning coal, garbage, oil or tyres enters the atmosphere and the impact of it appears at the onset of winter and remains till the season’s end, experts said.
Thus, air pollution reaches extremely dangerous levels in winter, severely compromising air quality. A healthy atmosphere in such a situation is subject to rainfall, which washes off hazardous particles.
