Bad air quality spread across central and southern Punjab as winter set in, with Multan recording the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of any Pakistani city on Saturday. The AQI is a scale that rates how polluted the air is, and Multan's reading was 492. Other cities in the province also reported high readings.
City readings on Saturday
Raiwind recorded 316 on the same index, while Rahim Yar Khan stood at 304, Faisalabad at 287 and Lahore at 273. Across the border, New Delhi ranked first among the world's most polluted cities with a reading of 539 on the same day.
The Punjab air quality problem tends to return with the cold months. Smog, a mix of fog and pollutants, has in past winters settled over Lahore for days, driven by low-grade diesel fumes and smoke from seasonal agricultural burning as temperatures fall.
Past measures and the winter ahead
Air pollution in Lahore has at times reached more than 80 times the level the World Health Organization (WHO) considers hygienic. To protect the public, authorities in earlier years closed schools and restricted opening hours for eateries, other businesses and markets.
Further steps for this season have not been detailed. Residents should watch for updated readings as the cold season progresses.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab mein hawa ka mayar sardi ke aaghaz ke sath kharab ho gaya hai. Multan mein Air Quality Index 492 tak pahunch gaya, jo Pakistan mein sab se zyada hai, aur Lahore mein 273 tha. Dhund aur smog se sans ki bemariyon ka khatra barh sakta hai, is liye bachon aur buzurgon ka khayal rakhein aur bahar kam niklein.
