City’s AQI crosses 700; dry forecast

LAHORE:The provincial capital witnessed a hazy day as the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the provincial capital crossed 700 while the lowest was 287 here on Sunday.

Data collected from IQAir revealed that the lowest AQI was 287, which came in the category of very unhealthy while the PM2.5 concentration was 42.4 times the World Health Organisation annual PM2.5 guideline value.

The most polluted city localities included Polo Ground Cantt (738), Askari 10 (461), Hiking & Mountaineering Club GCU (457), Tufail Road near Rahat Bakery (414), Thokar (400), DHA Phase V (386), Chattha Park Shahdara (374), Mini Market Gulberg (356) and Ghazi Road Interchange (356).

Meanwhile, Met officials said continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country while a shallow westerly wave was prevailing over upper parts of the country and moving eastwards.

They predicted that mainly cold and dry weather was expected in most parts of the country while very cold in hilly areas during morning/ night hours. Sunday’s minimum temperature was recorded at Skardu where mercury dropped to -11°C, while in Lahore, it was 4.6°C and maximum was 20°C.