Provincial Minister of Punjab for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.
According to the minister, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lahore which is being observed nowadays is different and the actual rating as per Pakistan Meteorological Department is 134.
Muhammad Rizwan, while speaking to City 42 News, said that people don’t know how to install air quality monitors. He announced that the administration is starting a plan in which people will be given education and training related to this.
Furthermore, while maintaining his stance, he stated: “Today our department has recorded AQI 134 mark while Town Hall has 192 and Model Town has 186.”
After this, the host of the programme said that today (Friday) the city’s quality index was at 337 and previously Lahore was on the list of the most polluted cities.
To which he replied, ”I can say with full confidence that there has been no smog in the last two years in Punjab, including Lahore.”
He said that even if there is no fog, the presence of smog was not possible.
On November 13, Lahore recorded a particulate matter (PM) rating of 364, which classifies the city under the “hazardous” category of air quality.
However, today Lahore stands at second place after Delhi and has recorded AQI 209 mark while Karachi is at fifth place with the 175 mark.
