Cold wave grips major cities as air quality remains a concern

WEB DESK: A spell of cold weather tightened its grip across several parts of the country on Thursday, with Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar reporting low temperatures, while air quality remained unhealthy in major urban centres, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and air monitoring authorities.

In Karachi, chilly winds blowing in from Balochistan continued to affect the city, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures. The PMD recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, while the current temperature hovered around 14°C. The mercury is expected to rise to between 23 and 24°C later in the day. Northeasterly winds were blowing at around 19 kilometres per hour, with humidity levels recorded at 45 per cent. Despite the cooler weather, the city’s air quality remained unhealthy but Karachi was not among the world’s most polluted cities on the day, rather it ranked eighth among the most polluted cities in Pakistan, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Lahore, meanwhile, continued to struggle with severe air pollution and cold conditions. The city ranked third on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with an overall AQI of 190. The worst air quality was recorded in the Barki Road area, where the AQI reached 587, followed by Gulberg at 326 and Raiwind Road at 312.
The PMD said the weather in Lahore remained cold, with partly cloudy skies. The current temperature was recorded at 6°C, while the minimum temperature dipped to 5°C in the early morning hours. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 15°C. Winds were light, blowing at approximately two kilometres per hour.

Improved visibility led to the reopening of the M-2 motorway from Lahore to Kot Momin for traffic, according to a spokesperson for the Central Region Motorway Police.

In Peshawar, temperatures dropped further, with the mercury falling to 1°C. Humidity levels stood at 39 per cent. The PMD forecast that cold and dry weather would prevail across most districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the next 24 hours. In the upper districts, Dir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4°C, Malam Jabba minus 3°C, and Saidu Sharif 0°C. Light snowfall is also expected in some upper areas of the province during the day, the PMD added.

Web Desk